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'r^ax^-cc 


GRASSES 


Forage    Plants 


A   PRACTICAL  TREATISE 

COMPRISING 

THEIR   NATURAL   HISTORY;    COMPARATIVE  NUTRITIVE    VALUE- 
METHODS  OF   CULTIVATING.   CUTTING,   AND  CURING;    AVD     ' 
THE  MANAGEMENT  OF  GRASS   LANDS  IN  THE   UNITED 
STATES  AND   BRITISH   PROVINCES 


1 


IJV 

CHARLES   L.   FLINT 

LATE   SECRETARY   OF   MA^:    ACfSETTS   STATE    HOARD    OF  AGRICULTLHP 
MEMBER  OK  BOSTO.  SOCrKTV  OK   .AT.RA.    HISTOUvTaut",0R       ^ 
OK  <■  MILCH   COWS  AND  DAIRV  FARMING,"  ETC      ETC 


REVISED    EDITION 


BOSTON 
LEE    AND    SHEPARD    PUBLISHERS 

lo  Milk  Street  next  Old  South  Meeting-house 
^895 


G3  3'Z 

i' 


A    COMPANION    VOLUME 


KY   THE   SAME   AUTHOR. 


MILCH  COWS  AND  DAIRY  FARMING. 


Tlic  breeds,  hreediiitji  ii'id  m;inii(^einont,  in  health  and  disease, 
of  dairy  and  otlier  stock.  The  selection  of  uiilch  cows,  witli  a 
full  explanation  of  Guenon's  Method,  tlie  culture  of  forage 
plants,  etc.,  etc. 

Cloth,  illustrated,  $8.00. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1S59,  ''y 

CHARLES  L.  FLINT, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts 


Copyrighted,  1SS7 

Bv  CHARLES  L.  FLINT 

All  rights  reserved 


Grasses  and  Fokagk  Plants 


Rockwell  and  Churciiill,  Printers 
Boston 


■'f 


PREFACE. 


etts 


The  object  of  the  following  pages  is  to  embody 
the  most  recent  practical  and  scientific  information 
on  the  history,  culture,  and  nutritive  value,  of  the 
grasses  and  the  grains.  To  make  the  work  practi- 
cally useful,  I  have  treated  the  subject  with  plain- 
ness and  simplicity,  so  far  as  it  admits  of  it,  and 
have  at  least  indicated  to  the  reader  the  vast  field 
of  study  which  lies  open  before  him  in  this  direction. 

The  large  number  of  illustrations  of  the  different 
species  of  grasses,  drawn,  as  they  have  been,  with 
great  care  and  accuracy,  will  serve  to  facilitate  the 
study  and  identification  of  unknown  specimens.  Most 
of  these  appeared  in  the  first  and  second  editions  of 
the  work.  I  have  added  to  this  edition  a  f&w,  drawn 
by  Professor  I  A.  Lapham,  of  Milwaukie. 

In  treating  the  subject  from  an  economical  point 
of  view,  I  have  tried  to  give  what  is  known  to  be 
of  special  value,  and  have  presented  the  experience 
of  practical  men  upon  points  about  which  the  opin- 
ions of  farmers  differ.  The  reader  will  be  best  able 
to  judge  how  far  I  have  succeeded  in  accomplishing 
my  object.  id',-     r- ' 

*^^     nraM 

lUCfiLATlVg  unuAn\ 


VI 


PREFACE. 


It  seems  unnecessary  to  dwell  here  upon  the 
importance  of  the  subject.  Perennial  grasses,  says 
an  eminent  practical  farmer,  are  the  true  basis  of 
agriculture  in  the  highest  condition  of  that  best 
employment  of  man.  Grasses  which  are  not  peren- 
nial are  of  immense  value,  especially  as  one  of  the 
shifts  in  the  ordinary  rotation  of  crops,  suited  to  the 
agriculture  of  the  great  upper  or  northerly  portion 
of  our  continent,  all  of  it  above  the  cotton  line. 
But  it  is  the  grasses  which  are  perpetual  to  which 
we  are  to  look  for  our  chief  success  in  farming. 

Perhaps  the  most  forcible  expression  of  opinion 
on  this  point  may  be  found  in  a  French  writer,  who 
asserts  that  the  term  grass  is  only  another  name  for 
beef,  mutton,  bread,  and  clothing;  or  in  the  Bel- 
gian proverb,  "  No  grass,  no  cattle;  no  cattle,  no 
manure  ;   no  manure,  no  crops  !  " 

If  my  researches,  imperfect  as  they  doubtless 
have  been,  should  have  the  effect  of  creating  a  more 
general  interest  in  the  subject,  and  leading  to  more 
careful  inquiry,  and  more  general  and  accurate  in- 
vestigation, I  shall  be  amply  rewarded  for  any 
labor  which  I  have  bestowed  upon  the  preparation 
of  the  following  pages. 

C.  L.  F. 

Boston,  May^  1887. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


INTRODUCTION, 


PAOI 

.     9 


CHAPTER    I. 

NATIKAL    HISTORY  OF   THE    TRUE  0KASSE3  WHICH    ARE   USED    FOR 
FOUAOE, jj 


CEIAPTER    II. 

THE   CEUEALIA,  OR   GRASSES    CULTIVATED    FOR   THEIR   SEEDS,  .       .  I55 

CHAPTER    III. 

THE  ARTIFICIAL  OKASSES,  OR  PLANTS  CULTIVATED  AND  USED  LIK- 
GRASSES,  THOUGH    NOT    BKLOXGING    TO   THE   GRASS   FAMILY,  1  ,3 

CHAPTER    IV. 

XUE  GRASS-LIKE  RUSHES,  CARICES,  AND  SEDGES,  COMMONLY  CALLED 
OKASSES,       ... 

197 


CHAPTER    V. 

VARIOUS   CLASSIFICATIONS   OF   THE   GRASSES, 


205 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE  COMPARATIVE   NUTRITIVE   VALUE  OF   THE  GRASSES,   . 


•  217 

(7) 


V"I  TABLE    OP    CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    VII. 

THE    CLIMATE    AND    SKASONS,    AND     THEIR    INFLUENCE   ON    THE  "" 
""^^^^^^' 239 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

SELECTION,  MIXTURE,  AND   SOWINO,    OF   OKASS-SEEDS 265 

CHAPTER    IX. 

TIME   AND   MODE   OF   CUTTING    GKASS    FOR   HAY 299 

CHAPTER   X. 

CURING   AND   SECURING   HAY,     .      .  o.m 

329 

CHAPTER    XI. 

GENERAL  TREATMENT  OF  GRASS  LAND,  .   .  on 

CONCLUSION,  ..... 

'    ....  888 

SYSTEMATIC   INDEX, gg„ 

GENERAL   INDEX 3^^ 


GRASSES  AND   FOllAGE   PLANTS. 


INTRODUCTION. 

I  PROPOsit:  to  speak  of  the  grasses,  a  family  of  plants 
the  most  extensive  and  the  most  beautiful,  as  well  as 
the  most  important  to  mankind.  It  embraces  nearly  a 
sixth  part  of  the  whole  vegetable  kingdom;  it  clothes 
the  globe  with  perpetual  verdure,  or  adorns  it  at  fixed 
seasons  with  a  thick  matted  carpet  of  green,  none  the 
less  beautiful  for  its  simplicity ;  and  it  nourishes  and 
sustains  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  animals  that 
serve  us  and  minister  to  our  wants. 

When  wo  consider  the  character  of  our  climate,  and 
the  necessity  that  exists,  throughout  all  the  northern 
and  middle  portions  of  the  United  States  and  the  Cana- 
das,  of  stall-feeding  from  three  to  five  or  six  months  of 
the  year,  for  means  of  which  we  are  dependent  mainly 
on  the  grasses,  it  is  plai^  hat,  in  an  economical  point 
of  view,  this  subject  is  one  of  the  most  important  that 
can  occupy  the  farmer's  attention. 

The  annual  value  of  the  grass  crop  to  the  country, 
for  pasturage  and  hay  together,  cannot  be  less  than 
three  hundred  million  dollars,  to  say  nothing  of  a  vast 
amount  of  roots  and  other  plants  cultivated  and  used  as 
forage  crops. 

I  shall  endeavor  to  give  a  brief  account  of  the  natural 
history  or  description  of  all  the  useful  grasses  found  in 

(9) 


i  1 


10 


INTROnUPTION". 


our  fields  and  pastures,  partly  I.eonuse  it  is  essential  to 
a  complete  un.lersta.iding  of  the  sul.jeet,  and  partly 
beeanse  there  is  at  present  no  popnh.r  treatise  o^  th^ 
.,eetw,thm  the  easy  reaeh  of  e„r  fanners,  an<l  so.ne- 
thn.gofthe  k.nd.s  needed  for  referenee;  but  I  shall 
con  ,ne  myself  mair.ly  to  a  plain  and  practical  treatment 
of  the  subjeet,  making  sueh  suggestions  as  I  think  mav 
be  useful,  on  the  cultivation,  cutting,  and  curing,  of  th^ 
grasses  (or  hay,  the  comparative  value  of  the  different 
varieties,  and  the  general  management  of  grass  lands 

1  his   subject  has  long  been  fiuniliar  to  me,  and  has 
especially  occupied  my  attention  for  the  last  few  yems 
Jlnnng  Much  I   have  made  an  extensive  collection,  em-' 
bracing  a  large  proportion  of  the  varieties  described  in 
the  following  pages,  for  preservation  in  the  Agricultural 
Museum  connected  with  my  office.     In  a.Mition  to  my 
own    extensive    observations    on  the   subject,   I   have 
sought    infomation    in    the   statements    of   intelligent 
farmers  ,n  d.flerent  parts  of  the  country.    Many  of  these 
1  have  myself  conversed  with,  while  others  hav'e  flivored 
me,  in  writing,  with  the  results  of  their  own  experience, 
from   which  1  shall  draw  with  a  liberal  han(L  for  the 
purpose  of  giving  the  work  a  practical  character,  and 
of  bringing  the  subject  home  to  the  general  reader      In 
treating  of   the  natural    grasses,  I   shall   limit  myself 
mainly  to  a  description  of  those  species  which  it  may 
be  for  the  interest  of  the  farmer  to  cultivate,  o,    at 
least  to  encourage  in  his  pastures,  with  such  others  as 
should  be  known,  to  be  avoided. 

In  the  arrangement  of  species  I  shall  follow  mainly 
the  na  ural  order  adopted  by  P.ofessor  Gray,  to  whoni 
as  well  as  to  many  others,  I  am  indebted  for  no  small 
assistance  m  studying  the  specific  characteristics  of 
many  of  the  specimens  collected  and  presented  in  the 
lolloAving  pages. 


CHAPTER     I. 


NATURAL     HISTOUY     OF     THE     TRUE     GRASSES 
WHICH     ARE     USED     FOR     FORAGE. 

The    gmsses,   in    popular    lanj^uago,  are   variously 
rl.vi.lo,!       I  hoy  are  sometimes   dosifrnated   as  r.aturul 
an.l    artificial:    tl.o     former   comprising    all    tl.o    tru,. 
grasses;    that    is,   phiuts    with    long,   simple,   narrow 
leaves,  each  leaf  having  many  fine  veins  or  lines   run- 
n.ng  parallel  with  a  central   prominent  vein  or  mi.lrii., 
and  a  long  sheath,  Fig.  1,  divided  to  the   base,  which 
«eems   to  clasp  the   stem,  or  through  which  the  stem 
seems  to  pass,  the  stem  being  hollow,  with  very  few 
exceptions,  and  closed  at  the  nodes  or  joints  ;  and  the 
atter-the  artificial -comprising  those  plants,  mostly 
leguminous,  which  have  been  cultivated  and  used  like 
the  grasses,  though  they  do  not  properly  belong  to  that 
tamily;  such  as  the  clovers,  sainfoin,  and  medic.     In 
common  language  the  term  is  often  used  in  a  sense  not 
strictly  proper,  being  not  unfrequently  applied  to  anv 
herbage  which  affords  nourishment  to  herbivorous  or 
graminivorous  animals,  including,  of  course,  not  only 
many  leguminous  plants,  like  clovers,  but  some  others 
winch  would  more  properly  be  called  forage  plants. 

But  in  botanical  language,  and  speaking  more  pre- 
cisely,  the  grasses,  Oraniine(je,  embrace  most  of  the 
grains  cultivated  and  used  by  man,  as  wheat,  rye,  Indian 
corn,  barley,  and  rice  :  all  of  which  will  be  ut  once  recog 

(11) 


12  MEANS    OF    DISTINGUISHING    SPECIES. 

nized  as  having  leaves  and  stems  very  similar  in  shape 
iind  structure  to  most  of  the  plants  popularly  called 

grasses. 

As  the  general  appearance  of  plants  is  often  greatly 
modified  by  climate,  soil,  and  modes  of  cultivation,  it  is 
important  to  fix  uj.ou  certain  characteristics  which  are 
perniaiient  and  unaltered  by  circumstances,  by  means 
ol  which  the  particular  genus  and  species  may  be  iden- 
tified with  ease  and  certainty.  It  is  evident  that  these 
characteristics  could  not  be  simpiv  hi  the  leaves,  or 
the  stems,  or  the  size  of  the  plants  because  there  'will 
be  a  great  difference  between  plants  growing  in  a  poor, 
thin,  sandy  soil,  and  others  of  the  same  species  on  a 
deep,  rich  loam. 

J3otanists  have,  therefore,  been  compelled  to  resort 
t()  other  parts  and  peculiarities,  such  as  flowers,  &c.,  to 
distinguish  between  different  species;  and  the  terms  used 
to  express  these,  like  the  terms  used  in  other  departments 
of  natural  history,  are  technical ;  and  hence,  in  detail- 
mg  the  natural  history  of  the  grasses,  the  use  of  tech- 
uical  language,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  cannot  be 
avoided.  1  shall  endeavor,  however,  by  the  use  of 
plates  and  synonyms,  to  bring  the  description  of  species 
withm  the  easy  comprehension  of  every  one  who  will 
carefully  examine  the  subject. 

The  flowers  of  the  grasses  are  in  some  cases  arranged 
on  the  stem  in  spikes,  as  where  they  are  set  on  h 
common  stalk  without  small  stalks  or  branches  for  each 
separate  flower,  as  in  Timothy  fP/deum  j^ratense);  in 
other  cases  in  panicles,  or  loose  subdivided  clusters  as 
M.  orchard  grass  {Dadylis  ghmerata).  A  panicle  is 
sMid  to  be  loose  or  spreading,  as  in  redtop  {Agrostis 
viiUjaris),  where  the  small  branches  on  which  the 
flowers  are  set  are  open,  or  extended  out  freely  in  dif- 
ferent directions;  it  is  said  to  be  dense,  or  crowded   or 


ESSENTIAL    PARTS, 


13 


compressed,  wiien  the  branches  are  so  short  as  to  give 
It  more  or  less  ofthe  spike  form. 

This  whole  arrangement  will  be  seen  in  Fig.  1   which 
represents  a  stalk  of  the  common  annual   spear  grass 
{Poa  annua),  a  plant  familiar  to  every  one  as  often 
troublesome  in   gravel  walks  and  on    hard,   dry  soil. 
Here  the  jomt,  the  stem,  or  culm,  clasped  bv  the  sheath 
of  the  leaf,  the  leaf  itself,  the  ligule,  and  tlie  spikelets, 
all  distinctly  appear  ;  and  the  reader  will   do  well  to 
make  himself  familiar  with  the  few  technical  terms  used, 
by  a  study  of  this  figure,  in  connection  with  Fio-.  2 
where  the  spikelet  is  so  magnified  as  to  show  the  floTetJ 
and  the  calyx  very  distinr    ■  ,  all  of  which  are  generally 
very  easily  seen  with  the  naked  eye,  and  Fig.  3,  show- 
mg  a  floret  still  more  magnified,  with  its  two  palccO,  the 
outer  pale  being  the  longer  and  generally  keeled  ;  'that 
IS,  having  one,  three,  or  more  longitudinal  ribs,  often 
having  on  the  back,  base,  or  summit,  an  awn  or  beard 
of  different  lengths,  as  in  the  oat  and  brome  grasses 
the  inner  pale  with  two  separate  fringed  ribs,  each  on' 
a  fold  at  the  side.      The    calyx,  cup,    or  outer  scale 
of  the  spikelet,  is  shown  very  much  magnified  in  Fig. 
4,  composed  of  two  glumes,  the  upper  and  lower,  the 
upper  glume   being  the  larger.     The  glumes  and  pales 
are  knowo  also  by  the  name  of  husks  or  chaff,  and  are 
removed  if  possible   in   cleaning  the  seed,  as   in  the 
grains  used  for  their  meal.     One  or  both  of  the  glumes 
are  sometimes  wanting. 

In  Fig.  5  is  shown  the  pistil  magnified,  consisting  of 
the  nectary,  composed  of  one  or  two  fleshy  scales  (in 
some  plants  of  this  family  both  on  one  side,  in  others 
entirely  wanting),  and  the  germ,  ovary,  or  seed-bearing 
portion  of  the  pistil.  The  stamens  are  also  seen  in  the 
same  figure,  consisting  each  of  a  bag  filled  with  a  fine 
powder  or  pollen,  supported  upon  a  stalk  or  filament 


14 


TECHNICAL    TERMS, 


iiltJtetSi 


••■■SfiiJff/eTi 


-  ■  -  £al(ral£ranohfM 


Rac/iis 


Inner  or 


' :  •  Stem 


/lij^iUg 


Sheaik  of  leaf 


Ji'ilammts^  .. 


Pistil  maynified 
Fig.  5. 


Joutx 


Fijf.  1.    Annual  Spenr Grass. 


FERTILIZATION. 


15 


c/, 


if 


which  19  analogous  to  the  stalk  or  stem  of  a  leaf;  while 
the  bag-  which  holds  the  pollen,  called  the  anther,  cor- 
responds to  the  blade  or  body  of  the  leaf  These  are 
essential  parts  of  the  flower. 

At  a  particular  stage  of  its  growth,  the  anther,  burst- 
ing, scatters   its  pollen,  some  of  which,  lighting  upon 
the  summit  of  the  stigma,  is  said  to  fertilize  it,  when  the 
new  seed  begins  to  enlarge,  and  a  germ  is  formed  capa- 
ble of  producmg  other  plants.      The  process  is  very 
apparent  to  the  observation  of  the  farmer  in  the  case  of 
In.han  corn,  on  which  the  pollen  is  so  abundant  that  it 
may  l,e  shaken  off  in  clouds.     It  falls  upon  the  stigmas 
or     silks,    one   of  which   is   attached   to  each  embryo 
seed  or  germ  ;  and  without  this  particle  of  pollen   the 
seed  would  not  be  capable  of  attaining  maturity      The 
same   arrangement  is  seen    less    plainly  in    the    other 
grasses,  as,  for  instance,  in  Timothy.     It  is  found  in 
this  who  e  family  of  plants,  though  it  is  more  percep- 
tibleni  Indian  corn,  on  account  of  its  size,  than  in  the 
smaller  grasses. 

The  germ  is  the  first  part  of  the  seed  that  is  distinctly 
formed,  and  hence,  if  the  seed  is  plucked  while  "  in  the 
niil..,  or  in  a  green  state,  it  will  germinate  the  next 
year  about  as  well  as  if  it  were  allowed  to  ripen 

Ihe  anther,  it  will   be   seen,  consists  of  two  cells  - 
very  prominent  and  hanging,  supported  on  the  long 
slender  h laments,  and   forked  or  divided  at  the   end 
1  he  two  short  and  smooth  styles  rise  from  the  summit 
of  the  ovary,  and   the  stigmas  are  featherv  or  rough 
sometimes   branched  or  compound.     Only  ^ne  seed  is 
contained    m    each   ovary,   and   each  seed  is  covered 
when  mature,  with  a  thin  husk  or  hull  called  the  peri^ 
e.up,  which  originally  formed  the  germ  or  ovary  ;^and 
he  ripe  seed  or  fruit  is  only  the  ovary  arrived  af  matu 
T} .     1  lie  substance  or  albumen  of  the  seed  of  aJ!  the 


16 


THE    GRASS    FAMILY. 


grasses  is  mealy  or  farinaceous,  as  wl.eat,  for  instance 
or  rye,  or  Ind.an   corn,  which  are  most  .  sed  as    eed!' 
on  account  of  their  size  and  productiveness.  ' 

lliese  are  tlie  prominent  characteristics  of  this  P-reat 
and  umversally  diifused  order  of  plants,  constituti.^,^ 

1  hey  he  ong,  as  has  been  seen,  to  other  plants  than  those 
commonly   called   grasses;   the.  order  C^.am/.ea,  as 
have  already  stated,  embracing  the  grains,  as  ud.eat 
barley,  rye,  and  many  others,  while  it  does  not  inchulj 
the  clovers,  which  properly  belong  to  the  order  of  legu- 
minous  plants.  ^ 

These  characteristics,  or  at  least  the  most  important 
of  them,  w.  I  be  very  easily  kept  in  mind,  as  the  long 
narrow,  and  lance-shapcd  leaves,  and  the  mealy  natu.e 
of  the  seeds  which  makes  so  large  a  part  of  thit  famih' 
valuab  e  aiul  nutritious ;  but  in  studying  the  distinctive 
cla  ia<  teristics  of  the  different  species  and  varieties  par- 
ticularly valuable  or  interesting  to  an  agriculturist  as 
forage  plants   it  will  be  necessary  to  depend  much  upon 
the  technical  terms  already  referred  to,  though  in  the 
following  pages  these  will  be  avoided,  or  explained  in 
the  context  as  far  as  possible. 

It  will  have  been  observed  that  considerable  import- 
ance IS  given  to  the  flowers  and  seeds  as  distinguishing 
characters  of  the  grasses.  It  will  often  be  found  difl 
cult  from  the  mere  external  appearance  of  a  variety  of 
grass  to  determine  to  what  species,  or  even  to  what 
genus  It  belongs,  so  great  is  the  resemblance  between 
the  ddlerent  species  of  this  class  of  plants ;  but,  with  tJ.e 
a.d  of  a  small  inagnifving  glass,  there  will  very  seldom 

If  the  plant  is  taken  winle  in  blossom.  Indeed  it  will 
(^ftcn  be  possible  to  arrive  at  a  conclusion  from  an 
nispectiou  Ufa  few  of  the  more  evident  characters 


LIST    OP    GRASSES. 


17 


it,  for  instance, 
used  as  seeds, 
less. 

cs  of  this  great 
constituting,  as 
IS  well  as  man. 
lants  than  tliose 
rmmuiece,  as  I 
aiiis,  as  wlieat, 
)es  not  include 

■  order  of  legu- 

nost  important 
J,  as  the  long, 
3  mealy  nature 
of  this  family 
the  distinctive 
I  varieties  par- 
L-ricidturist  as 
lid  nnich  upon 
hough  in  the 

■  explained  in 

9rable  irnport- 
listinguishing 
)e  found  diffi- 
'  a  variety  of 
even  to  what 
mce  between 
hut,  with  tiie 
veiy  seldom 
es,  especially 
ndeed,  it  will 
ion  from   an 
iraoters. 


I 


.rtr^Tl^  'T  '°  ^'^"''^^  ^'  2,  3,  4,  and  5,  will 
greatly  a,d  the  reader  in  becoming  familiar  with  the 
techn.ca    terms  applied  to  the  organs  or  parts  of      e 

In  giving  the   scientific  names,  the  first  word  that 

occurs  m  parenthesis    is  the  name  of  the  genus  ;  tl^e 

second,  that  of  the  species  ;  as,  for  instance,  fn  Timo  tly 

P    e..,. ..,...),  p;.,e.,.  is  the  generic' name,  ^  J 

Ipecies!        '^  ^   ^'""'   '^'^"   ^""^'""^   "W 

The    grasses   which    are    described    more    or    less 
nmmtely  n.  the  following  pages  are  named  in 

_____TableJ.  — List  op  the  True  Grasses. 


Common  Nuiiie. 


Kice  Grass, 

White  Orass,   .... 

Catch  Fly  Grass,     .   . 

Iiiiliaii  Rice,     .... 

Prolific  Kice 

Meadow  Fo.\tail,     . 

Floating  Foxtail,     . 

Slender  Foxtail, 

Wild  Water  Foxtail,  . 

Timothy, 

Moi'ntain  Cat's-tail,  . 

Rush  Grass, \ 

Hidden  Flowered  Vilfa, . 
Southern  Vilfa, 
Rush  Drop-secd, .   .   .   . 
Strong-scented  Drop-seed 
Leaden  Drop-seed, 
Smootr.-leaved  Drop-seed 
Late  Dro,.-3eed,  .... 
Brown  Bent,     .... 
Tickle  Grass,   .    .   .   ,    . 
Taller  Thin  Grass,  .   '. 

Thin  Grass, 

Redtop, 

English  Bent,  ... 
Florin 


Botanical  Name. 

I  Leersia  oryzoides, 
I  Leersia  Virginica, 


2* 


I   ■   • 

Leersia  lenticularis,    . 

I  Zizania  aquatica,    .   . 

Zizania  miliacea,     .   . 

I  Alopecurus  pratensis,     , 

Alopecurus  geuiculatus, 

Alopecurus  agrestis,  .   . 

Alopecurus  aristulatus,  . 

Phliuni  pratense,  .   . 

Phleuni  alpinum,    .   . 

Vilfa  aspera,    .... 

\'ilfa  vagiiiiEflora,  .  . 

Vilfa  Virginica,    ,   ,   .   . 

jSixiiobnJus  junoeus,    .   . 

,|Si)oroi)olu8  heterolepis,  . 

Sporobolus  cryptandrus, 
Sporobolus  compressus, 
Sporobolus  serotinus, 
Agroatis  canina, .  .  , 
Agrostis  scabra, .  .  . 
Agrostis  elHta, .... 
Agroatis  perannans,  . 
Agrostis  vulgaris,  .  . 
Agrostis  :;!hH,  .... 
Agrostis  Btolonifera,  . 


Time  of 
Blossoming. 


August,  .    . 
August,  .    . 
August,  .    . 
August,  .    . 
I  August,  .   . 
[May,  .   .   . 
May,  June, 
July,  .   .   . 
June  to  Aug. 
June,  July, 
August,  .    , 
Sept.,.   . 
Sept.,  .   . 
Aug.,  .   . 
Aug.,  .   . 
Aug.,  .   . 
Aug.,  .   .   . 
Sept.,  .   .   . 
Sept.,  .   .   . 
June,  July, 
June,  July, 
Oct.,    .   .   . 
July,  Aug., 
July,  .   .   . 
July,  .   .   . 
July,  .   .   . 


Place  of  Growth. 

Low,  wet  places. 

Damp  woods. 

Low  grounds. 

Borders  of  streams. 

Wet  places. 

Fields  and  pastures. 

Wet  meadows,  ditches. 

Fields  and  pastures. 

In  wet  meadows. 

Fields  and  pastures. 

Wild  mountain  tops. 

Dry,  sandy  soils. 

Sandy  &  gravelly  plains. 

Sandy  sea-shores. 

Dry  soils. 

Sandy  soils. 

Sandy  soils. 

Wet  bogs. 

Wet  sands. 

Fields  and  pastures. 

Old,  dry  fields. 

Swamps. 

Moist  shades. 

Fields  and  pastures. 

Melds  and  pastures. 

Moist  meadows. 


18 

LIST    OF    GRASSES. 

Common  Nnmo. 

Botanical  Name. 

'lime  (if 
I}lo88nining. 

IMuce  of  Growth. 

Southern  Heiit 

Agrostis  dispar,  .... 

July,  .   .   . 

Fields,  pastures. 

.\niiual  Hoard  Orass,     . 

I'ulypogon  monspeliensis, 

June,  July, 

Near  tlii'  coast. 

Wdod-reed  Grass,   .   .   . 

Cinna  arundinacea,     .    . 

July,  Aug, 

!<.  ,idy  swamps. 

Drooping- reed  Qrasa,     . 

Cinna  pendula,    .... 

Aug 

I,ow   WO(«IS. 

Awnless  Mulileiibergia, 

Muhlenbtrgia  s'lbolifera. 

Aug.,  Sept., 

Opin,  rocky  woods. 

Clustering  Mulileiibergia. 

Muhlenbergia  glomerata. 

Aug.,  .    .    . 

!<wamps. 

Me.xican  Muhlenbergia, 

Mulilfiiborgia  Mexicana, 

Aug.,  .    .    . 

Low  grounds. 

Sylvan  Mutdenbergla,   . 

Muhlenlwrgia  sylvatica, 

Aug.,  Sept., 

Uocky  woods. 

Willdenow'3  Muhlenber- 
fs\a, 

Muhlenbergia  Willdenovii 

Aug.,  Sept., 

Open,  rocky  woods. 

Nimble  Will 

Muhlenbertria  diffusa,    . 

Aug.,  Sept., 
Aug.,  .   .   . 

Dry  hills,  woods. 

llair  Grass, 

Muhlenbergia  capillaris. 

Sandy  snils. 

Awned  Brachyelytrum, 

lirachyelytruni  aristatum 

June,  .   .   . 

Uocky  woods. 

Blue  Joint  Grass,    .    .    . 

CalaniagrostisCanadensis 

July,   .   .   . 

Wet  grounds. 

Glaucous  Small  Ueed,    . 

Calamagrostis  coarctnta. 

Aug.,  .    .    . 

Wet  grounds. 

CI(Hi-flowere<l  Sm.  Ueed, 

Calamagrostis  inexpansa, 

July,   .   .   . 

Swamps. 

Alpine  Ueed  Bent,  .    .    . 

Calamagrostis  I'ickeringil 

Sept.,.    .    . 

Mountuin  tops. 

Purple  Bent, 

Calamagrostis  brevipilis, 

Sept.,.    .    . 

Pine  barrens. 

Woolly  Bent, 

Calamagrostis  longifolia. 

Sept 

Sandy  sea-shores. 

Beacli  Grass,  Sea  Reed, 

Ammophila  arundinacea. 

Aug.,.   .    . 

Drifting  sands. 

Upriglit  Sea  Lyme  Grass. 

Klyinus  arenarius,  .    .   . 

July,   .   .    . 

Drifting  sands. 

Black  Mountain  Uice,     . 

Oryzopsis  melanocarpa. 

Aug.,  .   .   . 

Rocky  woods. 

Wliite  Mountain  Uice,   . 

Oryzopsis  aspcrifolia,     . 

May,   .   .    . 

Wooded  hills. 

Cana<Iian  Uice,    .... 

Oryzopsis  Canadensis,   . 

May,   .    .    . 

Uocky  hill-sides. 

Feather  Grass 

Stipa  pennata, 

Aug.,  .   .   . 

Gardens. 

Richardson's  Feather 
Grass, 

Stipa  Uichardsonii,     .   . 

July,   .   .   . 

Pleasant  mountain. 

Black  Oat  Grass,    .   .   . 

Stipa  avenaeea,  .... 

July,  .   .   . 

Dry,  sandy  woods. 

Porcupine  Grass,    .   ,   . 

Stipa  spartea,  ..... 

July,  .   .   . 

Prairies. 

Poverty  Grass,    .... 

Aristida  dichotoma,    .   . 

Sept.,  .    .    . 

Sandy  pine  barrens 

Three  Awned  Grass,  .    . 

Aristida  ramosissima,    . 

Sept.,  .    .    . 

Dry  prairies. 

Slender    Three   Awned 
Grass, 

Aristida  gracilis,     .   .   . 

Sept ,  .   .    . 

Sanily  fields. 

Downy  Triple  Awn,    .   . 

.\ristida  strii-ta,  .... 

June,  July, 

Uocky  shades. 

Purple  Triple  Awn,    .   . 

Aristida  purpurascens. 

Sept.,.    .   . 

Uocky  uplands. 

Prairie  Triple  Awn,    .    . 

Aristida  oligantha,     .   . 

July,  .  .  . 

Prairies. 

Long   Awned   Poverty 
Grass 

Aristida  tuberculosa,     . 

July,  Aug., 

Dry  prairies. 

Fresh-water  Cord  Grass, 

Spartina  cynosuroides, . 

Aug 

Banks  of  streams. 

Salt  Ueed  Grass,     .   .   . 

Spartina  polystachya,    . 

— 

Brackish  marshes. 

Rush  Salt  Grass,     .   .   . 

Spartin,-.  juncea,  .... 

Aug 

Salt  marshes,  beaches 

Salt  Marsh  Grass,  .   .    . 

Spartina  stricta,  .... 

— 

Sea-coast. 

Rough  Marsh  Grass,  .   . 

Spartina  glabra,  .... 

— 

Salt  marshes. 

Smootii  Marsh  Grass,     . 

Spartina  alterniflora,  .   . 

Aug.,  Sept., 

Borders  salt  marshes. 

Tiiothache  Grass,    .   .   . 

Ctenium  Amerlcanum,  . 

— 

Wet,  sandy  plains. 

Muskit  Grass,  .   ,   .  •    . 

Bouteloua  oligostachya. 

Aug.,  .   .   . 

Dry  lands. 

Bristly  Muskit,   .... 

Bouteloua  hirsuta,  .   .   . 

— 

Sandy  plains. 

Hairy  Mnaklt,     .... 

Bouteloua  eurtipendula. 

July.  Sept., 

Stiff  anils. 

Naked  Beard  Grass,   .   . 

Oymnopogon  racemosus, 

Aus 

Pine  barrens. 

w 


LIST    OF    GRASSES. 


19 


>Wtll. 

I. 
ods. 


3. 


Common  Nuiiie. 


3. 

tain. 
)d3. 

reiis 


les. 
jeaches 


arshes. 
tina. 


;i 


Bntanicnl  Name 


1      Tinu'  <if 
Blnshiiming. 


Shiirt-leaved  Beard  Grass  lOymmipogon  hruvifolius, 
Bermuda  Grass,  .....  Cyiuidun  dactylon,  .   . 

Daclylijfteiiium     iEgj|i- 


E):j-|itian  Urass,  . 
Cni]!,  or  CYal)  Grass, 


tiacimi, 
Klmsiiie  Iiiilicii,  , 


I'ninti'd  Slender  Grass,  .  j  Lc'iitiK-'hloa  iim-ronata,  . 
CIn^t.Ti.ii;  Slender  Grass. !  U'pKjcldoa  ftuscicularis, . 


Place  oCGrowth. 


Tall  lledtop,  .... 
Sand  Grass,  .... 
Horned  Sand  Grass,  . 
Dupoiitia  Grass,  ,  .  , 
Twin  (trass,  .... 
Oretiard  Grass,  .  .  . 
Crested  Kteleria,  .  . 
Tiuncated  K(L■:Jri!^  . 
Pennsylvanian  Eatonia, 

.Melic  Grass,      

Uattlesiiake  Grass,  .  , 
Olituse  Sfje.ar  Grass,  .  , 
Long    Panicled    Manna 

Grass, 

Aleadow  Si)ear  Grass,  . 
I'ale  Manna  Grass,  .  . 
Water  Spear  Grass,  .  . 
Common  Manna  Grass, 


|Tricus]iis  sesleroides, 
[Tricus;iis  purpurea,   . 
Trleusjiis  cormita,  .   . 
Kupontia  Cooleyi,   .    . 
Piarrliena  Americana,   . 
Dactylis  (,'I"inerata,    .   , 
(  Ka'leria  crislata,     .    .    . 
Kceleria  tnincata,  .    ,    . 
Katonia  I'einisylvanica, 
Melica  niutica,     .   .    .    . 
Glyceria  Canadensis, .   . 
Glycerla  obtusa,  .   .   .   . 


•Sandy  soils. 
.)  uly,   .   .    .   j  LiKlit  soils. 

duly,   .   .   .  I  Fields. 

June,  .    .    .    Fields,  yards. 
Aug.,  ,    .    .   I  Fields. 
Aug.,  .   .   .  illraekish  marshes. 
Aug.,  .    .    .  , Sandy  fields. 

I  Sands  on  the  coast. 

'  Light  soils. 

,  Swampy  lands. 

■Moist  shades. 

Fields  and  pastures. 
,  I'rairies. 

I'ry  fields. 

.Moist  woods 
\  Fields. 
,  Wet  hogs. 

Borders  of  ponds. 


Glyceria  elongata,  .   .   .    June,  July,    Woods  and  swamps. 


i  Glyceria  nervata,  . 
I  Glyceria  pallida,  . 
!  Glyceria  aquatica,  . 

Glyceria  fluitans,    . 

(ilyceria  acutiflora, 


I'oiTited  Spear  Grass,  . 

Goosj  Grass, Glyceria  niaritinni,' 

Clustered  Spear  Grass,  .    Glyceria  ilistans,     .   . 

Spike  Grass, Brizoi)yrum  spicatum. 

Annual  Spear  Grass,  .    .    Poa  annua, 

Wavy  Meadow  Grass,    .     Poa  laxa 

Short-leaved  Spear  Oras« 
Soutlierii  Spear  Grass,, . 


Wo(h1  Spear  Grass, 
Weak  Meadow  Grass,  . 
Sylvan  Spear  Grass,  .  , 
F,)wl  Meadow,  .... 
Wood  Meadow  Grass,  . 
Rough-stalked  Meadow, 
June  Grass,     


Poa  brevifolia, . 
Poatlexuosa,  . 
Poa  alsodes,  . 
Poa  dehllis,  ,  . 
Poa  sylvestris, 
Poa  serotina,  . 
Poa  nemoralis, 
Poa  trivialis,  . 
Poa  pratensis, 


Blue  Grass, p„„  compressa. 


Creeping  Jleadow,  . 
Strong-scented  Meadow, 
Pungent  Meadow,  .  .  . 
Slender  Jleadow,  .  .  . 
Sliort-stalked  Meadow,  . 
Southern  Eragrostis,  .  . 
Branching  Spear  Grass, 


Eragrostis  reptans,     .  . 

Eragrostis  poajoides,  .  . 
Eragrostis  megastachyn, 

Eragrostis  pdosa,    .   .  . 
Eragrostis  Frankii. 
Eragrostis  Purshii  . 

Eragrostis  tenuis,    .    ,  . 


June,  .July, 
I  July,  .  .  . 
;Aug.,  .    .    . 

June,  .  .  . 
I  June,  .  .  , 
,July,   .    .    . 

July,   .   .    . 

Aug.,  .   .   , 

.■Vpr.  to  Oct., 
July,   .    .   . 
April,  May, 
Mar.,  May, 
May,  June, 
M.ay,   .   .   . 
June,  .   .    , 
July  &  Aug, 
June,  .   .   . 
July,  .       . 
June,  July, 
July,  Aug. 
July  &  Aug. 
Aug.  &  Sejit. 
Aug.,  .    .   . 
Aug.,  .   ,   . 
Aug.,  .   .   . 
July,   .    .    . 
Aug.,  Oct., 


Moist  and  wet  meadows 

Sliallow  water. 
!  Wet  soils. 
]  Muddy  ditches. 
I  Wet  lands. 

Salt  marslies. 
,  Salt  marshes. 
I  Salt  marshes. 
I  Fields  and  pastures. 
;IIigh,  rocky  liills. 
I  Rcwky  and  moist  places. 
I  Upland  woods. 
r|)Iand  woods. 
'  Woody  river  hanks. 
Rocky  banks. 
In  wet  soils. 
Fields  and  pastures. 
Fields  and  pastures. 
Fields  and  pastures. 
Dry  road-sides,  pastures 
Sandy  river  hanks. 
.Sandy  fields. 
Sandy  fields. 
Sandy,  gravelly  places. 
Moist  sands. 
Sterile  plains. 
Sterile  plains. 


20 


LIST    OF    GRASSES. 


Common  Name. 


Botanical  Name. 


Time  of 
BluMoming. 


Ploce  of  Growth. 


H,iii-|i,iiiiCKa     .\ieii(li)iv 

Unisit, 

Meiiduw  Conil)  Grass,  . 
yuiikiiitf  (Iras.-i,  .  .  .  , 
Small  Kfsoue  Urals,  .  . 
Sheep's  Fescue,  .  ,  ,  , 
Hard  Fescui'  f'rass,  .  . 
Ked  t'esi'ue  (iiass,  , 


KragroBtis  capillaris, .   .  .Aug.,  gi^pt..  ' Sandy  plains. 


Eragrostis  pectinacca, 
Iliiza  media,     .   . 
Festuca  tenella,   .    . 
Festuca  ovina,     ,   , 
Festuca  duriiiscula, 
Festuca  ruhra,     .    , 


Meailow  Fescue,  ....  Festuca  pratcnsis,  . 

Tall  Fescue  (Jrass,  .    .    .  Festuca  elatior,   .    . 

Slender  Fescue,   ....  Festuca  ioliaceo,  .    . 

Nodding  Fescue,     .    .    .  Festuca  Nutans,      , 

("rested  Dii^r's-liiil,  .    .    ,  C'ynosurus  crlstatus, 

M"illard's  IJronuis,  .   .    .  Bnnnus  secaiinus,  , 

Smooth  Brome  Grass,    .  ;  Bromus  racemosus, 

Soft  Chess, Bromus  mollis,     .   . 

Wild  Chess, Bromus  Kalmii,  .   . 

Fringed  Brome  Grass,    .  Bromus  ciliatus,  .   . 

Meadow  llronie,  ....  Bromus  pratensis,  . 

Sterile  Brome  Grass,  .    .  Bromus  sterilis,   .   . 

Spiiic  Grass, I'niola  panlculata,  . 

Ilroad-leaved  Spike  Grass  Vniola  latifolia 


Slender  Spike  Grass, 
Common  Ueed  Grass, 

Cane  Grass, 


Slender  Tail  Grass,  ,  . 
I'erennial  Kje  Grass,  . 
Italian  Kye  Grass,  .  .  . 
Bearded  Darnel,  .  .  .  , 
Many-flowered  Darnel,  . 
Coneli,  or  Twitch  Grass, 
Bearded  M'lieat  Grass,  . 
Siiuirrel-tall  Grass,     .   . 

Barley  Grijss, 

Two-rowed  Barley,  .  , 
Four-rowed  Barley, 


fniola  gracili»,    . 
'  Fliragmites  communis, 

Arundinaria    macrosper' 
ma, 

Lepturus  jianiculatus,    , 
j  Lolium  perenne,  .   . 

Lolium  Italicum,     . 

Lolium  tenmlentum, 

Lolium  multifiorum, 

TritiCTmi  repens,  .   . 

Triticum  canlnum,  . 

Ilordeum  jubatum, 
I  Ilordeum  pusillum, 
I  Ilordeum  distichum, 

Ilordeum  vulgare,  ■ 


Rye, Secale  cereale, 

Lyme  Grass,  .....  I  Elymus  Vlrglnlcus, 
Canadian  Lyme  Grass,  .  i  Elymus  Canadensis, 
Slender  Hairy  Lyme,  .  I  Elymus  striatus,  .  . 
Soft  Lyme  Grass,  .  .  .  '  Elymus  mollis,  .  . 
Bottle-brush  Grass,  .  .  '  QymnoBtlchum  Hystrix, 
Wood  Hair  Grass, .  .  .  i  Aira  flexuosa,  .  .  . 
Tufted  Hair  Grass, .  .  .  '  Aira  csespitosa,  .  , 
I'urple  .Alpine  Hair  Grass  i  Aira  atropurpurea. 

Wild  Oat  Grass I  Danthonla  splcata. 

Downy  Persoon,  ....  |Trisetum  molle,   ,   . 
iJowiiy  Oat  Grass,  .   .    .  JTrisetum  pubeaceus. 


Aug.,  S.'pt., 

Sandy  plains. 

June,  .   .   . 

Pastures. 

jJuly,   .   .   . 

Dry,  sterile  soils. 

June,  .   .   . 

High  pastures  ami  hills. 

June,  , 

Fields  and  pastures. 

— 

Sandy  places  by  the  sea. 

June,  .   ,   . 

Fields  and  jjastures. 

June,  July, 

Fields  anil  pastures. 

— 

Moist  meadows,  pastures 

July,  .  .   . 

Kocky  woods. 

July,  .   .   . 

Fields  and  pastures. 

June,  July, 

Fields,  and  in  grain  crops 

June,  .   .   . 

Grain  fields. 

June,  .   .   . 

Fields  and  pastures. 

June,  July, 

Dry,  "lien  woods. 

July,  Aug., 

Kocky  hills,  woods. 

July,   .   .    . 

Dry,  arid  pastures. 

July,  .   .   . 

Dry  pastures. 

Aug.,.   .    . 

Sands  oti  the  coast. 

Aug.,  .   .   . 

Shaded  fields. 

Aug.,.   .   . 

Sands  on  the  coast. 

Sept.,.   .   . 

Swamps,  edges  of  ponds. 

April,.   .   . 

Rich  soils. 

Aug., .  .   . 

Salt  licks. 

June,  .   .   . 

Fields  and  pastures. 

.Tune,  .   .   . 

Fields  and  pastiu'es. 

July,   .   .   . 

Grain  fields. 

June,  July, 

Fields  and  jiastures. 

June,  July, 

Fields  and  pastures. 

July,  .  .  . 

Woody  banks. 

June,  .   .   . 

Salt  marshes. 

May,   .   .   . 

Brackish  soils. 

June,  .   ,   . 

Fields. 

June,  .  .  . 

Fieldj. 

June,  .   .   . 

Fields. 

July  &  Aug. 

Banks  of  rivers. 

Aug.,  .   .   . 

Hiver  banks. 

July,  .   .   . 

Kiver  banks. 

July,  .   .   . 

Moist  soils. 

July,  .   .   . 

Moist,  rocky  woods. 

June,  ... 

Dry,  rocky  hills. 

June,  July,   ! 

^larshy,  wet  bottoms. 

Aug.,  .   .   . 

Hill  tops. 

June,  .   .   . 

Dry  pastures. 

July,   .   .   . 

Rocky  river  banks. 

July,  .   .   . 

Pour,  dry  iiastures. 

LIST    OP    GRASSES. 


21 


Miirsli  Out  Grass, 
Mi-adinv  Oat  (Irass,  . 
Vellinv  Oat  Ciras»,  ,  , 
I'urple  Wild  Oat,  .  . 
Karly  ^Vild  Oat,  .  .  . 
Cominoii  Oat,  .... 

Tall  Meadow  Oat  Grass, 


Meadow  Soft  Grass,  . 
Creephi),' Soft  Grass,  . 
Seneca  Grass,  .... 
Alpine  Holy  Grass,  . 
Sweet-scented  Vernal, 
Reed  Canary  Grass,  .  , 
Common  Canary  Grass, 

Millet  Grass, 

Doul)le.l)earing  Millet,  . 
Floating  Pasiialiim,  .  . 
Hairy  Slender  Paspalum 
Smooth  Erect  Paspaliim, 
Joint  (irass, 

Finger-sljaped  Paspaluni, 

Slender  Crab  Grass,   . 

Smooth  Crab  Grass,    . 

Finder  Grass,  .... 

Agrostis-like  Panic,    . 

Douhle-headeil  Patuc, 

I'rolilic  Panic  Grass,  , 

Hair-stalked  Panic,    .    , 

Antunm  Panic,    .... 

Hitter  Panic,    ....". 

Tall  Smooth  Punic,     .    . 

Uroad-leaved  Panic.   . 

Iliddon-flowered  Panic, . 

Small-seeded  Panic,   .    . 

Vellow  I'anic, 

Sticky  Panic  Grass,    .    . 
Millet 

Few-flowered  Panic,  . 
Polymori)luis  Panic,  .    . 
Worthless  Panic,     . 

Warty  Panic, 

Hungarian  Grass,   .    .   . 

Barn  Grass, j 

Bristly  Foxtail,    .    . 
Bottle  Grjvss,    . 
(ircen  Foxtail,     .   . 
Bengal  Grass,  .   .   . 
Burr  Grass,  .   .  . 


Trisetum  palustre,  .  . 
Avena  i)ratensl3,  .  . 
A  vena  fiavescens,   .    .    , 

Avena  striata, 

Avena  praecox,  .... 

Avena  sativa, 

Arrhenatlierum   avena- 
I     ceum, 

llolcus  lanatus,    .... 

llolcus  mollis, 

I  llierochloa  horealis,  .  , 
illierochloa  a)j)iua,  .   . 

Afith  ixanthuni  o<loratum 
Phalaris  arundinacea,    . 
I'halaris  Canariensis,     . 
Millium  emisuni,     .    . 
Mllliuni  Piirshii,     .   . 
I'aspalum  fluitans,     . 
Pasi>ahim  setaceum,  . 
j  I'aspalinn  liuve,  .    ,    . 
|Paspidiim  distichum, . 
i'aspalum  digitaria,    . 
I'anicum  filiforme,  .   . 
Panicuni  glal)rum,  .   . 
Pfcnicum  sanguinale,  . 
Panicum  agrostoides, . 
Panicum  anceps,    .    .   , 
Panicam  proliferum,  .    . 
Panicum  capillare,  .    .   , 
Pfinicum  autumnale,  .    . 
Panicum  amarum,  .    .   . 
Panicum  virgatum,    .   . 
Panicum  latifolium,    .   . 
Panicum  clan<lestinum, 
Panicum  microearpon,  . 
j  Panicum  xanthophygum, 
,  Panicum  visciduni,     . 
Panicum  miliaceum,  . 
I  Panicum  paucifiorum,    . 

j  Panicum  dichotomum,   .    , 

:  P'""'cum  depauperatum,  jjune,' 
j  Panicum  vcrrucosum,    .  JAug., 
I  Panicum  germanicum, 
Panicum  crus-galli, 
Setaria  verticillata,     . 
Sctaria  glauca,    .   . 
Setaria  viridis,     ....  _ 

Setaria  Italica,    .   .   .   .  |        _ 
Cenchrus  tribuloides,    .  JAug., , 


June,  ,   . 
July,  .   . 

July.  .  . 

June,  .    . 
June,  .    ,   , 
July,   .    .    , 

May,  June, 

June,  .   .   , 


I  Low  grounds. 
I  Pastures. 

I  Fields  and  pastures. 
I  Uocky  hill-sides. 
[Sandy  soils. 
Cultivated  fields. 

I  Fields  and  pastures. 


'May,   .   . 
July,   .   .   . 
May,  June, 
July,   .   .    . 
[July,  Aug., 
June,  .   .   . 
Sept.,  .    ,    . 
Oct,    .   ,    . 
Aug.,.    .    . 
Aug.,  .    .    . 
July,  Aug., 
July,  Aug., 
Aug.,  .    .    . 
Aug.,  Sept., 
Aug.  to  Oct 
July,  Aug., 
Aug.,  .    .    , 
July,  Aug.. 
Aug.,  Sept., 


Aug.,  Sept., 
Aug.,      .   , 
June,  July, 
July,  Aug., 
July,  Sept., 
June,  .   ,   . 
Aug.,  .    .   . 
June,  . 
June,  ,!ul.-, 
June,  Aug., 


Aug.,  Sept., 
July,   .   .   . 


,Flelil3  and  pastures. 
Fields  and  pastures. 
Wet  meadows. 
|. Mountain  lopd. 
Fii'lds  and  pastures. 
Hy  running  streams. 
Gardens. 
.  I  Damp,  c(]|d  woods. 

■  I  .Moist  i)ine  barrens. 

■  j  Wet  swamps. 
I  Sandy  fields  by  the  sea. 

Moist  meadows. 
Wet  fields. 
,  .Moist  grounds. 
'  Ilry  sands  on  the  coast. 
Fields,  waste  i)lace8. 
,i  Neglected  (ieids. 
I  Wet  nie<i.,  river  banlsg. 
I  Wet  pine  barrens. 
i  Brackish  marshes. 
j  Dry,  sandy  fields, 
j  Sand-hills. 
I  Sandy  shores. 
j  -Moist,  sandy  soils. 
Damp  thickets. 
Moist  tliickets. 
Moist  thickets. 
Sandy  soils, 
j. Moist  soils. 
Cultivated  grounds. 
Wet  soils. 
,  Moist  fields. 
I  Dry  wo(Kl3. 
j  Sandy  swamps, 
j  Cultivated  grounds. 
Kich  cultivated  grounds. 
j  AlHiut  farm-houses. 
'Fields  and  harn-y.ards, 
Cultivi..ed  fields. 
Fields. 
Sands  near  the  coast. 


.)o 


HOW    TO    EXAMINE    SPECIMENS. 


I  I 


n 


Coinmcin  Nuiiie. 


Onma  (Iniss, 

Woolly  lluiird  (Iriiss,  .  , 
Slmrt-lifiinlnl  Kriiiijtlm3, 
FinciT-spikfd  Wood,  ,  . 
I'lirplc-wwHl  (Jrasa,    .   . 

.".ilvfi-  lUiHnl  Oriis.s,    .   . 
Virf:iiii!in  Ileiiiil  Uriiss,  . 

(^luster-llowuivd    Ilfiinl 
Ciniss, 

Indian  tii-ass, 

Dhouna  Corn,     .... 

Broon)  Corn, 

ChiiRse  Supir-cane,  .  . 

Cliocolute  Corn,  ,   .   .   , 

Indian  Corn,    .   .   .   .  , 


Bntanieal  Name 


Time  of 
Blomnmliifi. 

Ann.,  ■  .  . 

Si'l't.,  .  .  . 

AuK'i  .  .  . 

S<fl)t.,.  .  . 
•lulytoSt'iit., 

Sipt.,  ,  .  . 

Sept.,  .  .  . 


Trip/iiirmn  diictyloidcs,  , 
Kriaiitliua  aloiiocuroldes, 
KriandiiiH  I)rcvibarbi8,  ■ 
Andro|M)).'on  furcatua,  , 
AMilro|)oj,'on  8coi)arlu9,  . 
An(lriiiKit;oo  arncntfus, 
Androiiiigon  Vir(,'inlcus, 

Anilroimgon  macrorus, . 

Sort-'lmin  nutans,     .   .   .  \  Aug.,  . 

Sorjr  luin  vultiaro,   ...  I         

Sorj,'lmm  sacclmratum, .  ,  July,  . 

Sorghum  nigrum,    .   .   .  July,   , 

Sorjiliuni  liicolor,    .  .  .  Aug., . 

Zeamays, July,  . 


Place  of  Growth. 

Moist  plaLVBon  thecouBt 
Moist  pint'  barren. 
Low  grounds. 
Sterile,  roi'liy  hills. 

Stcriii.',  sanily  plains 
llarnji  soils, 
iiiiidy  soils, 

lioiv  (.'rounds 

Pry  soils 
Cultivated  fleids. 
Fields. 

Cultivated  grounds. 
Cultivated  grounds. 
Cultivated  grouiiUg. 


To  aid  the  reader  in  finding  the  true  name  of  an 
unknown  specimen  of  grass,  the  following  arrangement 
will  be  found  to  be  very  convenient,  and  easily  under- 
stood. Lot  the  flowers  of  the  grass  be  first  examined. 
If  but  one  is  found  in  each  spikelet,  refer  to  number  2, 
of  the  left-hand  column,  and  then  examine  and  see 
whether  they  are  arranged  in  panicles  or  spikes  ;  if  the 
former,  then  refer  to  number  3  of  the  left-hand  column, 
and  see  whether  they  are  awne^'  or  not.  If  awned, 
refer  to  number  4,  if  without  imu.,  to  number  12,  of 
the  left-hand  column.  If  unawned,  and  having  two 
glumes,  refer  to  13,  and  so  on.  If  without  glumes 
and  atpiatic,  it  is  a  zizania,  or  wild  rice. 

If  in  the  first  examination  the  spikclets  are  found  to 
have  two  or  more  flowers,  refer  to  number  20,  of  the  left- 
liMiid  column,  and  see  whether  the  inflorescence  is  in 
panicles  or  spikes.  If  the  former,  refer  to  27,  of  the 
It^ft-hand  column.  If  the  latter,  in  spikes,  refer  to  39, 
and  then  see  whether  the  spikelets  are  two-rowed,  or 
one-sided.  If  the  latter,  refer  to  45,  and  see  whether 
the  spikes  are  digitate  and  the  spikelets  in  two  rows. 
If  they  are,  refer  it  to  the  genus  Eleusine. 


ANALYSIS    OF    SPECIMENS. 


23 


4 


,s 


But  littlo  practice  will  bo  required  tu  gain  lUmiliarit; 
in  thus  iiuiilyicing-  the  lluwer.s  of  the  griusses. 

I.   Spikulets  witli  but  uiiu  tlowur,      ,, 

1.   Spikeletn  vvitli  two  or  luuva  iluwurs .^^ 

'2.  Flowocs  iinanged  in  ijuuicles, j. 

2.  Flowers  in  spikes, 

3.  With  iiwiis 

3.  Witiiout  iiwiis y, 

4.  OluiiieH  liu'ge , r 

4.  Glumes  iiiimitc,  uiKiiuiil,  one  hardly  perceptible n 

4.  Gluiiies  none,  grass  iniuatic o Ziz; 

5    WitliDiit  abortive  riKliiiieiits ,. 

.    .,,  ' I, 

£>.    >Vitii  an  abortive  rudinieiit  of, I  secoiul  Hower 52— Hole 

C.  Paleiu  two 

t).  I'aleiu  tliree,  tipper  awned  flowers  polygamous,  .     O.j—Sorsi 

7.  I'alea  with  one  awn, 

7.  Lower  palea  witii  three  twisted  awns 

8,  Pait'if  cartilaginous  or  gristly, 

8,  Paleie  herbaceous, 

H.  Paleio  membranaceous,  panicle  open,  .    .    , 

8.  Palt'u  membranaceims,  panicle  contracted, 
9.  Flowers  sessile,  or  joined  to  the  stem  at  t-iie  base, 

9.  Flowers  stipitate,  fruit  black, '...,.    14— St" 

10.  Flowers  nakeil,  with  one  stamen <\     nZl' 

10.  Flowers  hairy,  stamens  three 12-Calamagrostis. 

11.  Stamens  three, in     Af  n    ?       • 

11.  Stan.enstwo 10-Muhlenberg.a. 

12.  Glumes  two ."   .'  ."  .'  ."  ;  ;    '    '  "-I''-''«l'y«lytrunj. 

IS    p!!;^'''"r"""°''*^'^^'^«^'°»ghf'-on'the'endbaWwar(ls,\-Lee^^^ 
lo.  1  aieio  memltranacoous, 

13.  Paleie  leathery,  sj.ikelets  all  cauline,'   .'    ."    *    '. 

13.  Paleaj  leatliery,  lertilc  spikelets  radical,    .    .'    '. 

14.  Fruit  coated,  or  covered  with  a  husk,      ...  '  '  ir, 

14.  Fruit  naked, r  *  «    "    V  , 

15.  Flowers  stalked,     .    .  C-Spon.bolus. 

15.  Flowers  sessile,  .  7-Agrostis. 

IG.   Flowers  awned,    ..".'.   ".    ".   ".   ■.;;;; '^^''f: 

16.  Flowers  without  awns,    ....'.* J^ 

n.  Spikes  solitary,  ....  

17.  '^PikoH  two,  polygamous,  sterile  flowera  bearded,:    '.  W-An^'ropogo"n 

18.  bpikes  simple,  or  nearly  so 10 

18.  Spikes  panic'ilate,  or  lobed, .'.'.".'.'""*'  21 


Ifi 
4 


zania. 
.    0 

BUS. 

7 
;iium. 
8 
-    15 — Aristida. 

'.I 

10 

.  7 — Agrostis. 
•  8 — Pol^'pogon. 
13 — Oryzopsis. 


14 

.    .    .    50— Milium. 
57 — Amphicarpon. 


!i 


24  ANALVaiS    OF    8PEC1AIENS. 

ly.  Involucre  none 

ll^  luvolucre  ottwoormore  brwti<(*   .  .                  •   •   •   •   •   .  •    •   • 
Itf.   luvoluuro  burr.l.ko.  ....  Cf>-S.  ana. 

.„,    I,,,         ...  oi — Cunchrus. 

t  l,'''''"^"""'^"'"^'""-'  to  three- times  their  Icutfth.   8_Alupecurua. 

20.  lulc.u.vMthu«  nshve  times  their  length.  .    .    .     44-nLh.um 
Ul.  Both  glumes  ami  puleu.  awneU.   ...  I()_\h7 

21.  Ulu.ne.  awnle...  «,ngle  ,.alea  awne,!, Gi^Tvtn     ""^''^"^ 

21.  I'aleu.  two.  lateral  ,I,...L,„.,,„,  ;    '    '    ' '^^^T^^^- 

22.  Flower,  periln^t  or  polygamous.  .    .    .    .'  .'  .'  [^f-;^^^ 

22.  Spikes  nionuecious ..^ 

23.  Spikes  one-«i(le<J .'.'.'.' 

23.  ypikes  cylindrical,  solitary  terminal. 1    in  i  '" 

.1.    u  •■      ,  •'  4 — rhleurn. 

24.  Sp  kes    wo  or  more,  spikelets  suborbicular.  .   .    58-1'a.naluni. 

-4.  Spikes  digitate  or  verticiUate,  linear 5'.l— I'a.in.n. 

-4.  Spikes  pedunculate,  u,  a  two-sided  panicle,  .    .    .  Ifi-Spartina. 
9ft    ^  .f  '^"^''^  ^!-'*^''<-'> 'n  "^  •'ne-«nl'-HJ  panicle 41_Leptu,U8. 

26.  Spikes  all  terminal,  sterile  above,  fertile  at  Imse,     .    .  C2-Tri,,sacum 
-6.  iertile  sp.ke.s  lateral,  sterile  ones  terminal  panided.  ....  GO-Zea 

2G.  Inflorescence  in  panicles 27 

2(i.  Inflorescence  in  spikes !    '   '    "    '  30 

27.  Flowers  awne<l, ' 

27.  Flowers  without  awns, ','.'.*.*' qq 

28.  Lower  jjalca  awned  on  the  back, !   .'   !    !  29 

28.  Lower  palea  awned  on  the  apex .'.*.'!*  32 

29.  Awn  near  the  base  of  the  palea !!!!.'*' 30 

29.  Awn  near  the  apex  of  the  palea,     ............   \   .    \\ 

30.  Apex  bifid,  awn  bent .'..'.'.'   '  50— A  vena 

30.  Apex  bifid,  awn  bent,  lower  flower  sterile,  51-Arrhenatherum 

30.  Apex  multifid, 4'— A" 

81.  Palene  with  two  biistly  teeth,  ..........'   "dO—TWsPh'.m" 

31.  Palete  bifid, \^  1    setura. 

q.,    T  1  ,   , 3/— Bronius. 

61.  Lower  palea  rounded,  obtuse, 35— Briza. 

32.  Lower  palea  entire,  pointed,  fruit  coated,     .   .   .   3G-Fe8tuca. 

32.  Awn  between  two  teeth,  twisted, 48_])..nthu!'i4' 

33.  Terminal  flower  perfect \i 

33.  Terminal  flower  abortive,  or  a  mere  pedicel, )'<\ 

34.  Paleie  entire,  outer  one  mucronate, 35 

34.  Glumes  uneriual,  like  the  lower  abortive  pale,       SO-Panicum 

84.  Glumes  equal,  longer  than  the  palea S/")— PImlaris. 

34.  Lower  palea  truncate-mucronate,  inner  bifid,      .    .  3«— Uniola' 

34.  Flowers  silk„'-bearded  on  the  rnchis 39— Phragmites' 

^''    .Spikelots  terete,  paleiB  seven-nerved 31— Glyceria. 

■•      ■jp;-<el'*- '.vo  to  six,  five-nerved, 33_Poa.' 

3-;.    ■;/Jr:!w.s  two  to  twenty,  three-nerve<l 34— PVairrostia.' 

> ;.  ■  :>i!i-.<!et8  flat,  lor-c  ■  pale  laterally  compressed.  32— Brizopyrum. 


^ 


THE    GRASS     FAMILY  25 

85.  Scales  two  — styles  two or     r-    . 

«r,.  Scales  an.l  Htyle«  three •    •    8<>-Fc8tuca. 

6i>.  I'aiiiule  cuntracteU,    ...       *' 

3t;.  I'aiiicle  lar^e  ditl'use -jI,  \".  ,* 

o>    r  1  ■       .      '^" — Melica. 

»i.  Lower  palea  onu-puiiitcil,  or  muoronate go 

87.  Lower  palea  poiiitk'MM '    '    '    '    ". 

87.  Lower  palua  three-cleft.    ...        .'V:''"""- 

o7.  Lower  i)ale  awiiless „r     , 

.,u    <t,  .1  ^^ — l^upontia. 

.10.  otamuii.s  three, ou     i-    i     . 

88.  Staiiieiistwo, ,,,,     ...      , 

on    a    1    1  .    .  ,     ,  •^('— JJiarrhena. 

3!l.  Spikelet.s  two-niiiked I,, 

3'J.  Spikelet.s  uiiiliitural '". 

40.  (ilumes  broad 

40.  (ilumes  subulate ,  . 

AA    ri  ,       ■     .X.  ..    , '!()— Gynincstichum. 

41.  Oluines  two,  in  the  upper  spikelet  only,    ....  ao     i    i;.,„ 

4L  Oluines  two.  Ill  each  Mpikelet, A'i     t  ■  ■ 

42.  (.lurne.s  collateral,  spikelets  in  twos  or  more,    .    .    40— lllynius 

4-J.  Oluiue.s  opposite,  spikelets  solitary 4,'j__sVi.,ile' 

43.  One  perfect  anionfT  several  neutral  ones [    .  iV—Cteniuni 

43.  One  perfect  tlower below  several  neutral  ones,  ........         .ji 

43.  Spikelets  coiijrluinerate,  or  paniculate,    ...'....."  ^'T—Dnetvlis 

43.  Spikelets  with  more  than  one  perfect  flower,  .  '       "  a' 

44.  Spikes  dense '.'.'.■;  .'  islooutdoua! 

44.  Spikes  hlitorm.racemed I'J-Gymnopogon. 

44.  Spikes  slender,  digitate, "Jit— Cynodon 

45.  Spikes  digitate,  {rlumcs  and  pale  awnless,  blunt,  .    .   .      "•'— Fleusine" 
45.  Spikes  racemed,  slender 23_Leptochloa." 

The  order  Gi{amine.e,  or  the  Grass  Family,  embraces 
as  ah-eady  .said,  plants   with  cyh-ndrical  stein.s,  for  the 
most  part  h.-llow,  and  closed  at  the  joints,  with  leaves 
in  t\\ ;  alternate  rows,  and  sheaths  open  on   the  side 
opposite  the  blade,  down  to  the  point  from  which  (hey 
start.     The  flowers  are  in  littlo  spikelets  held  in  two- 
rowed   glumes  or  bracts,  the  outer  glumes    generally 
two  m  number,  and  unequal.     The  stamens  vary  frotn 
one  to    SIX,  but  are   usually  three,  in    number.      11, « 
ovary  is  simple,  with  two  styles  and  two  feathery  stig- 
mas;  and  the  fruit  is  enclosed  in  a  husk,  called  a  cary- 
opsis.      . ,,-  gj-eat   and    universally  diffused    order  is 
divided    by   botanists    into   tribes,   sub-tril         genera, 


'» 


26 


WHITE    GRASS.  —  CUT    GRASS. 


i  i 


i 

il 


species,  and  varieties  ;  the  tribes  and  sub-tribes  em- 
bracinj;'  more  or  less  genera;  each  genus  embracing 
more  or  less  species,  and  a  species  often  embracing 
varieties.  In  tiie  arrangement  of  the  following  i)ages 
each  genus  is  numbered  in  its  order;  and  the  first  we 
have  is 

1.  Leersia.  White  Grass. 

Spikelets  one-flowered ;  flowers  perfect,  flattened, 
compressed  in  one-sided  panieled  spiUes  or  clusters, 
jointed  with  tiie  siiort  pedicels.  Glumes  wa  ting,pale}e 
boat-shaped,  flattened  laterally,  awnless,  closed,  nearly 
equal  in  length,  the  lower  one  much  the  broader,  and 
enclosing  a  flat  grain.  Stamens  one  to  six  ;  stigmas 
leathery,  with  branching  hairs;  sheaths  rough  or  prickly 
upwards.  Perennial ;  swamps  and  low  grounds.  Ge- 
neric name  from  Leers,  a  German  botanist. 

White  Grass,  Cut  Grass,  False  Rice  (Lecrsia  ory- 
zoick's),  is  very  connnon  in  wet,  swampy  places,  and 
along  the  margins  of'  sluggish  streams  and  ditches. 
Stems  from  two  to  four  feet  high  ;  panicle  erect,  spread- 
ing, with  rough,  slender  branches;  leaves  narrow,  long; 
sheaths  exceedingly  rough  and  sharp  to  the  iiand,  drawn 
from  the  end  downward.  Florets  oval  and  white,  or 
whitish  green;  spikelets  flat.  Flowers  in  August.  Said 
to  be  a  native  of  Europe  and  Asia,  as  well  as  the  United 
States,  Connnon  in  most  parts  of  the  country,  and 
often  known  at  the  South  as  '*  rice's  cousin." 

This  beautiful  grass  is  of  no  agricultural  value  ;  and 
the  farmer  should,  by  careful  draining,  encourage  the 
growth  of  more  valuable  species  in  its  place. 

Small-flowered  White  Grass,  A'irgixlvx  Cut  Grass 
(Lcersln  lln/iiiivd),  is  rather  smoother  than  the  pre- 
ceding. A  branch  of  the  panicle  is  shown  m  Fig.  G. 
The  {)anicle  is  simple,  slender,  the  sj)ikelets  closely  ap- 
pressed,  oblong.  A  magnified  spikelet  is  shown  in  Fig.  7, 


CATCH    FLY    GRASS.  — KICE. 


27 


Fip,  R. 
■Virginia  C 


2.    ZlZANIA. 


Indian  Rice. 


f'pik  let.  m  the  samo  punieles:  .uhuiu's  wantino-  or  nidi 
n  enhuy,  fon.„.^  ,  H,He  enp:  pale.e  convex    ^-e^t 
t^n       !""•'/)"''•"'  tho  lower  tippe.l  wml  a  stnul" 


PROLIFIC    RICE. 


29 


IiKln.n  Eice,  Wild  Rice,  or  Watfi?  O^to  i  7-  • 
a^uj.tita),  k  ,g.  12,  iH  found  m  swampy  borders  of  stre-urm 
in  shallow  water,  and  is  common,  'it  grows  from    iee 

ranicle  laige,  pyramidal;  lower  l,ranclies  sterile  .nre-id 
mg;  upper,  pistillate  or  fertile,  erect.     Flowers' in  J^h-' 

est  toucl ,  an,l  this  furnishes  food  for  water-fowls      It  is 

Thrp.Ti ';?'  %*'- ^^-■'^---     North  Amer^ 
Ihis  plant  IS  the  JoUe  avome  of  the  early  settlers  of 

all  Zt'  H  ^^r^^^''"^'^  P^^'^fi^'  growing  Wld  in 
all  the  Southern  States,  where  it  is  said  to  produce  two 
crop«  n.  a  year  of  good  hay,  of  which  stock  of  eve  v 

In  the  Western  States,  where  it  is  also  commo^i T  he 
shallow  water  on  the  swampy  margins  of  s^Im       t 
forms  an  important  food  for  the  Indtns.  who  mTd/e 
canoe  among  the  rice,  bend  it  over  the    ide     -n^f  i     t 
out  the  grains  with  a  stick.  '  '"^  ^^"^* 

In  Fig.  13,  the  staminate  Howers  are  seen  as  th.v 
appear  at  the  end  of  a  branch  of  the  naturll  sLe  f!I 
14  represents  a  staminate  flower,  magnified  F.vf* 
the  germ  and  stigmas-  Fie-  Id  k Li  '  ^'^-  ^^' 
flower;   Fig.   H^the  ^am^^  p';  ,^  ^-^^'^^ig^'^f^^^'^^te 

hand  ?L  T^T^     ^"  ^"^^^"  ^°^"'  o»  the  other 

I'and  the  grams  of  pollen  are  heavier  than  the  surround 
>ng  air,  and  so  fall  from  the  sterile  flower    of   he't^s" 
-I     upon  the  styles  or  '<  silks,"  and  thus  fer^Hile  them 

Soutir' p'n ?r  ^^''"T  ""^''''"^  ''  «'-  f--^  at  the 
bouth.     lanicle  spreading,  sterile  and  ferfiln  flow^s 

mtermixed.     Awns  short,  styles  united,  grain  smooth! 


30 


MEADOW    FOXTAIL. 


i 


Annunl ;  flowers  in  August.    Grows  from  six  to  ten  feet 
high  in  slmllow  water.   Ohio,  Wisconsin,  and  the  South. 

3.  Alopecurus.        Foxtail  Grasses. 

Spikelets  ono-ffowered ;  ghniies  boat- 
shaped,  compressed  and  koel(M],  nearly 
equal,  united  at  the  base  ;  lower  palea 
awned  on  the  back  below  the  mid- 
dle, upper  palea  wanting ;  stamens 
three  ;  styles  mostly  united  ;  stigmas 
long  and  feathered;  leaves  smooth  and 
flat.  Panicle  contracted  into  a  cylin- 
drical, soft  spike,  like  the  tail  ora''fox. 
from  which  it  derives  its  generic  name. 
Introduced  and  naturalized  from  Great 
Britain. 

Meadow  Foxtail  {Alopecurus  pra^ 
tensis),  Fig.  19,  has  an  erect,  smooth 
stem,  two  or  three  feet  high,  with 
swelling  sheaths;  spikes  cylindrical, 
obtuse,  equalling  the  sharp  cone-like 
glumes  ;  awn  twisted,  and  twice  the 
length  of  the  blossom.  Fig.  20.  The 
spike  not  so  long  as  that  of  Timothy, 
Flowers  in  May,  in  fields  and  pastures. 
Perennial  —  introduced. 

The  meadow  foxtail  close- 
ly resembles  Timothy,  but 
may  be  distinguished  from 
it  as  having  one  pjilcii  only. 
The  spike  or  head  of  mead- 
ow foxtail  is  soft,  while 
that  of  Timothy  is  rough. 
It  flowers  earlier  than  Tim- 
othy, and  thrives  on  oil  soils 
except  the  dryest  sundcand 


U) 


Fig.  19.    Meadow  Foxtail. 


Fig.  liO. 


SLENDER    FOXTAIL. 


31 


gravels  It  i«  common,  but  is  disliked  by  m.nv  fhrm- 
ers  a.  a  field  grass,  bemg  very  ligl.t  in  proporiiou  to 
its  bulk.  ^ 

It  is  a  valuable  pasture  grass,  on  account  „f  its  earlv 

aru]  rai^d  growth,  and  of  its  being  p-eatly  relisi.ed  by 

stock  of  all  kuKls.     The  stems  and   leaves  are  too  few 

and  light  to  make   it  so  desirable  as  a  field  crop      It 

n-.ves  best  on  a  rich,  moist,  strong  soil,  and  shoot's  np 

Its  flowenng  stalks  so  nmch  earlier  than  Timothy,  that  it 

need  not  be  mistaken  ihr  that  grass,  though  at  fi^st  siaht 

It  cons.deral.ly  resembles  it.     It  is  superior  to  Timodu 

as  a  permanent  pasture  grass,  enduring  the  croppino-  of 

It  is  justly  regarded,  therefore,  as  one  of  the  mo.t 
valuable  of  the  native  pasture  grasses  of  England,  fo."n 
ing  there  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  sward  and 
endurmg  a  great  amount  of  forcing  and  irrigate" 
11  ough  formmg  a  close  and  permanent  sod  when  fully 
set,  it  does  no  acqnn-e  its  full  perfecti<m  and  hold  of 
the  sod  unt.l  three  <.•  four  years  after  being  sown 

The  nutnr.ve  qualities  of  meadow  foxtail  are  mo.t 
abundant  at  the  time  of  flowering.  It  is  said  to  Zl 
upwards  o  seventy  per  cent,  of  its  weight  in  drying  if 
cut  111  the  blossom.  "^  "'J  nig,  it 

The  se(Hl  of  meadow  foxtail  is  covered  with  thp  ..ff 
and  woolly  huslcs  of  the  flower  while  thl, 
.u>ms  ,e,l  w„i,  an  .nvn.     Tl.ero  a,-,  five  po.uKls'ol  "^ed 

fts::  rrt:^^ir-"lx^;;-:,:;;r 

Slender   Foxtail  (Jlopecums  agrestis)    Fio-    21    i. 

rarely  found  herr  hnf  i..  ^-      ^      '■'"''  ^^^-  -^I,  is 

^      uuu  nerc,  but  i:j  sometimes  introduced  in  for- 


32      SLENDER  AND  FLOATING  FOXTAIL. 


I 


Fig.  21.    Slender  Foxtail.  Fig.  22. 

Fig.  21.     Flouting  Foxtail. 

eign  seed.      It  may  be  recognized  by  its  lonp:,  slender 
panicle,  tapering  at  each  end,  and  the  long  awn  which 


FI,OATIX(;     AM)     WIM.     Watijj;     KOXTAJI. 


•I'j 


\ 

axtail. 

lender 
which 


projects   l..vo,.,l   tl.o    j.al.s.      In   Fi^s.   -  a.ul    23   tl.e 

.ul   0  its  sle.nl.T  pa.nclc,  ,ts  Jargor  spilcelets,  its  la.wr 
l.guic.and   tl.e  roughness  of  the   ste.n  and   leav.s   ' 
|u-esses  no  pa.iieulur  agrK.ultnral  valne.     Flowers  in 
•'•ily-    Annual.     Autive  of  (i.eat  JJntaui. 

Float.x.  FoxTA,.  ,JAv.r....  i,cuicalacus)  has  a 
>«;.  .  as..end,ng-,  Lent,  and  lo.,ning  knees  at  tl  e  lower 
)i»ints,  as  shown    n  Fi.r   •>!  •  .,,  •       •  lowei 

mlea  FiL."  •>?  I         "■       ;       "  l"".)^''-f>"M-  I'oyond  the 

.Inne..  anthers  hn.ar,  upper  leal' as  long  as  it<  .heath^ 

root  perennud,  hlu^ous  :  .joints  suK.oth  Jong,  and  n™^^ 
"'   =^  l""'l'Io  tn.ge;  leaves  ilat.  sharp   n  nun'    .  Z' 

-los,  ser^ted  on  the  edge,      .nllor!;::::;!':  .j       " 
Hded:    sp.kelets    numerous,   eoni,,ressed,   en.twit 
one-awned  (loret  as   large  as  tl  Jealvx.  '        ;  ;  :  '     : 
Hea,  awn  slender.     Found  in  n.oist^neadows,^,: 
ponds,  and  slow  streams,  lloating  on  the  wtter  i 

'h^t,ngu.shed  from  meadow  loxt^il  in  hWg^leup^^^ 
^Kvuhahout  the  length  or  its  leai;  and  by  tC^^ 
!"g  -V..,  wlule  H.  the  meadow  foxtail  the  up,    r     S h 

--i;;^iz;;;;::-ti;t:;:::t^^:;t:-- 

also  grows  m  wet  meadows,  but  is  of  n.,   ....  .7^^''.' 
-^IturaNalue.     Native  of  CW  Brihli"     ^''"^'  "^'■'- 


4.     PriLEUM. 


CaVs-Tail. 


Panicle  spiked,  spikelets  compressed    tt.I,...     1      . 
than  the  awned  <-|„mow   fi,  >  )  """I'l^^-^seci,  pa  lea   shorter 

awnless  :  st-Te    "is    net     I         'I  ";'^tru.,cate,  usually 
•  i,>  jcn    i-iisrnicr,   f  ainenK'   li-m'.-      .  -i        ^ 

I'ough,  or  harsh.     So  called  IW,  ^:>:J^:t  ;'*'"-' 


'•oni  an  ancient  (Jreek  ter 


m 


34 


NMOTHY. 


siu'iiilyiii,!:'  cat's  tail, 
tV(M|ii('iuly  known  in 

m 


till'  name  liy  wliicli  it  is  still  moat 
Great  Britain. 

TiMOTiiv.  11  Hint's  (JiiAss  (  P//lcniu 
jn'iitciisc).    Fii^'. -•>.    S[iik('s  cylin- 
Irieal  or  elon^ate<l:  j^hnnes  hairy 
on  the  back,  tippi'il  with  a  bristle 
loss  than  hall' their  length;  leaves 
ong, Hat,  rough, with  long  sheaths; 
root  perennial,  lihrous  on   moist 
soils,  on  dry  oni's  often  bulbous. 
(Jrows  best  on  (lam[),  peaty  soils. 
Fk)wer  Fig.  27.  The  name  of  Tim- 
t)thy,  by  which  it  is  more  generally 
known  over  the  country,  was  ob- 
tained from  Timothy  Hanson,  who 
is  said  to  have  cultivated  it  exten- 
sively, and  to  have  taken  the  seed 
from  New  York  to  Carolina.     Its 
culture    was,   according  to   some 
accounts,    introduced    into    Eng- 
land,   from     Virginia,     by     Peter 
Wynche,  about  the  years  17(!<)  or 
ITGl. 

It   is  freiinently   called   Herd's 
grass  in   New  England  and   New 
York,  and  tliis  was  the  original 
name   under   which    it   was   culti- 
vated:   it   was   derived 
fi  om  a  man  ot'that  name, 
who,  according  to  .1  ared 
Eliot,  found  it  growing 
wild  in  a  swamp  in  Pis- 
cataqua,    N.    IT.,   more 
than   a   century   and  a 


Fiji 


L 


,  i^till  moat 

ss  ( PI  ileum 
likes  cyliii- 
nines  hairy 
til  11  bristle 
;th;   leaves 
lit;'  sheaths; 
-  oil   luoist 
■11  hulhous. 
peaty  soils. 
line  ol  'riiii- 
■e  generally 
h'v,  was  ol»- 
hiiis()ii,who 
eil  it  exteii- 
eii  the  seed 
roliiia.     Its 
ig  to   some 
into    Eiiii'- 
hy     Peter 
>ars  17<>0  or 

lied  Herd's 
(1  and  New 
the  original 
[  was  enlti- 
vas  derived 
)t'tliat  name, 
lingto.lared 
1  it  growing 
i-amp  in  Pis- 
I.  IT.,  more 
itury   and  a 


<.'t:ALITIi;s     OF    TI.M0TIIV.  35 

st.ue.s  hwther  sonth,  tins   name   is  applied  to  Anrostis 
c'liiar,,,  or  the  redtop  of  New  England. 

>|nela.r  states,  as  the  result  of  the  experiments,  ahont 

tliii'tv  \ears  a<-()  'it  WmI.hi.m  am  S        .         >  "^^  "•"' 

of  th,/r)ni        f  T     1  ^    '''-'''  ""'^'^^•'  t''^'  Husj.iees 

>     the  Dnke  of  Bc.hord,  and  with  the  assistaneo  of  Sir 

'';'»n>lH-ey  Davy,  that  the  erop  when  ripe  exceeds  in 

Hutritive  value  the  erop  at  the  time  of  flowering      Th 

coi^  usi^is  sustained  by  the  more  reeent  investigations 

of       of.  Wm.v,  whose  elaborate  analyses  of  the  grasses 

-.11  be  found  on  a  subsequent  pag^.      This  migh     be 

n  erred  from  the  size  and  weight  of  the  n.ealv'ed 
^  l.cMi  the  grass  ,s  npe,  as  many  as  thirty  bushels  of  which 
lutvmg  been  known  to  be  produced  on  a  single  acre 

As  a  crop  to  cut  for  hay  it  is  probably  unsurpassed 
'>y  any  other  grass  now  cultivated.     Though  sle  v  ' 
coarse   and    hard,    especially    if  allowec^t    H^    ^ 
^eed,  yet  ,f  cut  in  the  blossom,  or  directiv  .f  er  it 
.;.ut^i..isliedbya,lkindsofs;oclc,andt,^^^^^ 
l'^    ho,..es,  while   ,t   possesses  a  large   percentage   of 

:;:  :::r  rr  \-:  ^""""'"•""^  ^^^^''  ^^^^  ^^^^ 

fci'i^sth.     it  ,s  often  sown  w  th   clover    but  tl.n  i      . 

pn.c..ea.  fa,™.,  a,.  ,.,,i„„,„,  ,o  Z::^nl     I  . ,: 

.,  on  account  of  ,l,„  dillcrcnt  tin.os  of  l,l„s.„,„i„„  „  ■ 

wo  crop,,.      Ti„,o,l,y  being  i„v„,.ial,iv  ia.c, ";!,: 

"vci.    he  former  mn..t  oftcM,  be  cut  too  Krcen   bc(h -p 


36 


MoirxTAix    cat's  T\  11-. 


other  p-asscs  iuc  licttcr  suited  to  tliriii.iiinl  more  proHt- 
iilile.  It  <^'ri)ws  very  ri'iidily  and  yields  veiy  Iju-f;^  erops 
on  liivoraliie  soils.  I  have  known  instances  wliere  ils 
yield  was  lour  tons  to  tiie  aere  of  th"  liest  <piiditv  of 
liay,  the  'J'iniothy  const itnfini;'  tiie  ludk  ol'tiie  ^'rass.  It 
is  cidtivated  with  ease,  and  yields  a  lar^v  <|uantitv  ol' 
seed  to  the  acre,  varyin^^  liuin  ten  to  thiity  ImsheKs  on 
rich  soilri. 

Tn  one  respect,  perhaps  -t  must  l)e  adnu'tted  that  tliis 
grass  is  inferior  to  meado ,,  foxtail,  and  that  is,  in  the  (juai- 
ity  of  it.s  aftermath  :  for  while  that  of  the  latter  is  vei  \ 
g-reat,  the  aftergrowth  of  'J'iniothy  is  coniparativelv 
slight,  and  if  allowed  to  stand  too  long  and  then  inie\  n 
in  a  dry  time,  it  starts  so  slowly  as  to  leave  the  ground 
exposed  to  the  scorehnig  rays  of  the  sun,  unless  inileed 
there  ha])pens  to  be  a  rapid  growth  of  elo\er  to  protect 
it.  The  comparative  value  ol'  this  grass  will  be  referred 
to  hereafter. 

It  IS  i)roper  to  say,  in  this  connection,  t/iat  it  is  fre- 
quently attacked  by  an  insect  a])i)arent!y  just  before  the 
time  of  blossonnng,  which  causes  the  .stalk  to  die.  The 
ravages  of  this  insect  seem  to  have  increased  within 
the  last  few  years.  My  attention  has  been  repeatedly 
called,  by  observing  and  practical  iiirmers,  to  the  large 
number  of  ''I'imothy-stalks  killed  bv  this  devourinu-  in- 
sect.  Xo  means  of  preventing  its  ravages  are  as  yet 
known. 

^louNTAiN  CatVtail  {PIthnim  (i/jn'num)  is  a  grass 
that  grows  to  the  height  of  from  six  to  twelve  inches, 
on  mountain  and  hill  tops  in  New  Ibinipsliire,  and  high 
northern  latitudes,  and  is  easily  distinguished  by  its 
short,  bristly  spike  or  ])anicle,  seldom  exceeding  an  inch 
in  length.  It  is  of  little  or  no  agricidtural  \-alue.  since 
it  is  rarely  eaten  even  by  sheep.     J>iossoms  in  July 


^1 


I 


5 


i*tl__ 


loro  prufit- 

iirgo  crops 

wiicrr  its 

(lUiility  of 

;^'rjiss.  It 
(iiiiitity  ol' 
bushels  oil 

(1  tliiil  this 
11  tho  (|Uiil- 
'or  is  vi!i\ 
parativi'U- 
hen  iiKiu  II 
he  ,t;roiiii(l 
L'ss  indeed 
to  itroteet 
e  rei'erred 

:  it  is  liv- 
boibre  the 
die.  Tile 
<ed  within 
■epeatedly 
the  IiU',!j,(' 
:)uring  iii- 
ire  as  vet 


s  a  grass 
vo  inches, 
,  and  high 
sd  hy  its 
ig-  an  inch 
hie,  since 
1  July 


TMH     JiL-.sn     (;ii  ASSES. 


\'lLI'A 


37 


JtH.s/t   (rrnsif. 


l>'"";"u:vvKi,  \-,LKA,  Ki-s,,  (i„,«s  (;•;//;,,  ,,,„„,,) 

.un.n-s  IniiM  tw,)   l„  r,„,,.  (;.,.(    Im,,I,                  1       "■^JJiitn, 
'    '■""     '■""■"'■''•;"■-  1"..^',  Hgi,!,  :„„|  ,.„„., ,,i,o 

ix-.hi"-nn,.,,,,,i,,,,..,»i.,,,,i|,,,i,,  :»!,,,;„ ,,„,,;': 

"'"■■ '•■     '■•■'■•■""-'-    'H"-..-.-.-....!...'.!  value 

""'■■K-V    l'Y,„v,;,,,,„  \-,,,,  ,  ,v,^;,  ,„,„■„„,„,.      . 

i:'L  ::::,:;;'■  ;^'''''"'''; — '.-.p-< ''t 

'  "-"'  "    ""■  '"■"'■l.v  '■• I  KiniiK.s.    Tl.i,  e„,s<  U 

' ' ,""   '■.nv„,s,„„lvs,,iki„   „M,st   na,,,  ,  : 

--.t  ,l.„  >„u,|.     Of,,,,  k„„„  „  „g,-icul„„.ai  val.r      • 
«■    S|.,„„„;,„,,  „.       I)r„i,.,,,,t  Or,,..., 

"    ''   -^     <-;■ .   panicle.    Ilouering  in  August,  spikelots 
'"1',^'    and    s  nn  im-       I'l-, ;,.;,, .    w  ■  ■  i"^i-i«.  i.s 

S„;,tl,.  ^-      ^'■'""^■'^    ^^i.sc.uls^l,    and   at   the 


paiiirio  pyramidal,  1 


oose,  ui)en  :   glumes  ve 


ly  nnecpial 


38 


Till-;   (;i;ms    a*;  nosns. 


lower  ii\vl-sliiii)CHl,  n|i|»('i'  tii[i('i-ip<)iiitt'(|,  jiiid  Imi-cr  tlmii 
tlio  lower  pales.  I'ereimijil,  flowciiiii;-  in  Au};iist.  Tlie 
])luiit  emits  II  strong-  odor.  Cuniioeticut,  ^'e\v  ^'oii<. 
iiiKJ   lli(!  \Ve>terii  State>  to  Illinois. 

Ii.\i!(;i:-i'AM(  i.Kii  \'ii,iA  {Sj  ■jru/iohis  ii//ji/niiifr>/s).  — 
I'ltniele  leatl-eolored,  |iyiiinii<liil  :  lia>e  usuallv  enclosed 
in  tlie  upper  slieatli,  I'roni  w  liicli  the  panicle'  appears  to 
burst  with  spreadiu;^'  liranches;  llowiis  awnless:  lower 
giunie  Very  short  :  stem  I'rom  one  t(»  three  I'eet  hi^li : 
stamens  thiee,  anthers  yellowish,  styles  (listiiict,  sti;i'ma.s 
white.  (Jrows  on  sandy  soils  in  \ew  York  and  at 
the  South  and  West,  when*  it  is  ciiniiudn. 

('l-osK-i'/,owKi;i:i)  f)i!oi'  m:ki)  (S/Kifo/ioh/.^i  coinjircssnfi). 
—  A  smooth,  leai'y  };'rass.  with  stout,  Hat  stems,  found  in 
hogs  in  the  pine  liarrens  of  Xew  .)ers(>y,  wliei'e  it  forms 
tussocks  IVnni  one  to  two  leet  high.  01' no  agricultural 
value. 

IjX'yk  Di?oi'  Si-:ki)  { SjtorobohiH  serotmns)  is  sometimes 
found  in  low,  swampy  |)laces,  Avitli  smooth,  slender, 
flatfish  stems:  leaxcs  few  and  slender:  jtanicle  spread- 
ing, with  hairy  hranehes ;  glumes  ovate,  ohtuse,  and 
half  the  length  of  the  j)alea.  Flowt'rs  in  Septemijer. 
It  is  u  delicate  grass,  of  no  special  agricultural  value. 

7.   A(;i;osTis.  Bent  Grass. 

<>ne-llowereil  sjiikelets  in  a  loose,  o\w\\  panieli'  : 
glumes  nearly  e(pial.  the  lower  pointless,  and  longer 
than  the  pale;e.  which  are  thin  and  nakeij  :  stamens 
three  :   pert'nniai. 

Tai.i.ki!  'I'iiix  (luA.ss  (J(/r(>s/i's  <7a/u).  — Astout  grass, 
from  two  to  three  feet  higli.  Spikelets  crijwdrd  on  the 
hrancla's  of  the  spreading  paiiii'le  ahove  the  nn'ddle ; 
lower  palea  awnless  :  upper  wanting.  In  swamp>,  from 
New  .lei'sev  sou t hwiud. 


3. 
k 


'ir 


f 


St; 


ili^Z'cr  tli;iii 

list.        'I'll.' 

i\v     ^'urk, 

iiilrns),  — 
ciicloscil 

IppC'lllS   to 

'ss  :  lower 

t,  sti;^'mas 
k.   iiiid    iit 

iijinssus), 
,  IouikI  ill 
I'  it  ibriiis 
:ricultiiriil 

oniptiiiu's 
,  slcinlcr, 
Ic  spread- 
tusc,  and 
■|itciulMir. 
I  value. 

lit    Grnss. 

])aiiicl('  : 

id   loiiucr 

stamens 

)iit  .crass. 
I'd  (111  tlie 
'  middle  ; 
m]i>,  li'dni 


TM  Kl.l.;    (.'fjAss.  -    11  KHUN     11  KM.  y,, 

Tiiix  (ii.'As.    ,i,,,,,sf;,  ,,.rn„„n,s).-  Paniel,,  dillusHv 
.siMvadm^^    ,.ale    ,..een:    |„,.m.|.es    sl.ort.    divided,   and 

'    '";";'T"'^   ''7. •'"''"^^•^'"■•"i''''l«':i.'..ndi.Mani,, 

<l-l."l  pla-es.     |V,,,„nial.     Flmver.s  in  June  and  J  nil ' 

II.UU  (;n.^ss  or  F.v.uav  (;..ss,  Tmklh  (Jn.ss 
'•''/"W.,s.  ..../.,„  ,,,.s  another  specie.  heloUKiu;;'  to  (his 
.vni.     jviH,   a   ,.mele   ve..v   loose    and   s^^^^^^^ 

'^,    the  lone  eajHllary  luanehes  Ihnv.rdieann';  near 
t--.|H'x:   sten.s  slender,  ono  to  two  leet  hi,hMeave 
shor  and  narrow.    Flouers  in  .J„ne  and  .Julv. Connnon 

::  .';:;'^ ':•';•'•--'' ---1.S.  it  is  or  no  ,j:: 

I'll  a<4-rifnl(ural  value. 

luinletllf^n   tP /"'?'• '^'-""^ 

-'^>-i-.utl.  stall,  when  thev  are  hlownala.uU^^ 
"•"l--attenn.tlie,r,seedHfur  and  wide ;  and  he,  ee  it 

.sre.p.entlve.dled'M^lv-awav  Grass/'  i,h,strati"^ 

Ml     ,    nnral.M.o„n.n.u.eesc^ 
tion  ol   (lu.  seeds  ol  -rasses  and  other  plants. 

;:-  an  erect,  slender,  spreading  paniele:    n.ot    ^^^u. 

-'l-epn,,:sto.nerec^^ 
""  •"        i  ho    palea    sliortcM"    than    the    n.l,„„e    and    Im- 
-';;;    -tha].i,,hentawnontlie..a,l.aL.:^i^^^^^^ 

'     -      -spd.eletsatfirst.reenisli,anerwardsI>rown 
'    fMW  pnrple.      Meadows  and  pastures,  and   we 
^•d,  places -nitroduced.     FWeri  in  .,„nJ  and  J^  ;! 
'f'.-ot  no  special  agneultural  value.  ^ 

The  Alpi.vh   I]i!owv   I!i.\t  t  t . ,    f 
y-O.  the      PKH.HT  Flowkim.,)  Uknt,  and  manv  other 
^-,es,nue  the  mentioned  ;l,„t,  of' all  the  spJcie 
■i  -I    ■igncultural  g-rasses  among-  us. 


* 


40 


R  EOT  01'. 


Redto 


AS    A     PANTIMM.     (JliAr^s. 


41 


lie 


Hc'kop  is  often  sowi,  witi,  Tinn„l,v    .,   , 
l'<'^"S  «-|,,„  Timothv  «,||„„..  .,H,.,    .1  ,       "  ''""'I'- 

^"■iird.     Ill  l',.|||,,,-K .,        ,        '8'''"»"Sturriisndose 

-^..ii.v  i<:r:i\r  ,v;':o:;:::'  """-■  -"";.  i*  i« 

I'  i»  or  »,„„.nvl,.t  sK„>.  ..wHli     ;'"'"■',"""•"' "'"'"=• 
•P'"lit.v,  .suited  ,o  „K,is,,  r^  ;„      ,"'  ""'"'  "'■  >""'"■■" 

■n"'s  grass  i„  ,,,-,,i.i,K  ;,:'':  v::"',"'; '°  ""■ 

-'^^•ed,  tl.o  emtio  rdhso  it  •  a  ,.    t  ';'''''r  "J'  ^o 

pastnro   o.,asso.      Tfic  il   f       '^"""  '^^  tl.c  other 

..•eHn,7.Mhrsp.!:;^';:  :;-';;;;;;  ^^ 

""•t'-'f"">^  qualities:  sine,.  thL      I  ^'^<''^"^'"'-'o  or 

"".1  .hrubs  ure  readilv  eaten  wl  '"'tl'  K'-asses 

^ta;,e  of  growth,  arc ^-etused/"'"'''^'^^^'^-''''-'' 

't  IS  to  I.e  regretted  that  IVulc-ssor  W.v   f,.   i  •        , 

"'^••'e  investigations    into   the   nntri  Ve     -'  ,  .' 7'' 

K'-Msses,  did  not  ineh.de  tin-s  in  t  "^    °^    ^'"^ 

At  present  Ave  I->vp  n  analysed  l.yhiin. 

''■--eorn.any:;h::;::-;:r''*^''"^^''"^^'^^^'''-'' 

"lis  grass  is  known  l,v  viri,,,,.  „  ,. 

:;;n;;::':£::  t  •'"F-"■^- 


'  i 


f\ 


+2 


i:\f;  i.irui    hknt. 


,i;i-()\vs  f)\(M' twchc  inclK's.  iiuil  cttuii  not  <iverti\c  or  six 
iiirlics  liiu'li,  while  it  has  a  liiihtcr  (•(liur.  In  the  latter 
sitimtioiis  it  ,ni)es  l)_v  the  name  of  Finetop,  and  is  uni- 
versally seen  in  old,  dry  pastures.  In  some  sections, 
where  it  is  liijj,-hly  esteemed,  it  goes  hy  the  name  of 
l>urtlen"s  or  IJordeu's  (Jrass ;  in  others,  of  Khode  Island 
IJent ;  but  1  am  unahle  to  discover  any  dilFerence  be- 
tween these  and  redtop,  except  tiiat  produceil  by  vari- 
eties of  soils:  and,  on  in(piiring  of  some  of  the  largest 
dealers  in  seeds,  I  lind  that  orders  for  all  these  are  sup- 
[died  iVom  the  same  seed. 

Fineto|)  may  be  regarded  as  a  variety  of  redtop, 
produced  by  the  character  of  the  soil. 

lv\(iLisH  1)1;nt,  Whitktop,  Dkw  Gijass,  White  Bent. 
Bonnet  (tUass  (ili/j'ostis  alba).  Stem  erect,  round, 
smooth,  polished,  having  lour  or  live  leaves  with  rou'///- 
is/t  sheaths  ;  striated,  upper  sheath  longer  than  its  leaf, 
crowned  with  a  long,  acute,  ragged  ligule:  joints  smooth; 
branches  numerous.  recumbcMit.  rooting  at  the  K)wer 
joints  where  they  come  in  contact  with  the  groimd,  as 
shown  in  figure  ?>0 :  jtanicle  somewdiat  narrower  than 
in  rc(Uop,  lightish  green,  or  with  a  slight  tinge  of  pur- 
pK* :  lower  or  inner  palea  one  half  the  length  of  the 
upper,  and  shorter  than  the  glumes:  live-nerved,  awn- 
h'ss,  ])ereimial.      Native  of  Europe. 

Wliiteto])  may  be  known  from  redlop  by  the  sheaths 
being  i-ongh  to  the  touch  from  above  downwai'ds,  and 
tli(^  ligule  l)cing  long  ;"nd  acute,  and  the  keel  of  the 
large  glume  of  the  calyx  toothcMl  nearly  to  tlie  base. 
In  redtop  the  sheaths  are  smooth,  ligule  short  ami  ob- 
tuse, ami  the  keel  ol'  the  large  glume  toothed  only  on 
the  uppei'  j)ai't. 

It  may  be  known  from  Brown  Bent  {Agrostis  i-a- 
■iiiii(i).\^\  having  an  inner  ]ialca  in  its  lloret,  while  in 
Brown    Bent   the    inner   palea   is    wanting.     It  is  Ncry 


,iil 


FIORIN    (;i{\SS. 


43 


conuiiuii  on  the  ('fimw>f.(;,..,f  t>-  ■, 

...H.......  ,     I         ^^^"iiocticut  Kiver  meadows,  where  it 

IPe.1.  to   be  ualigenous,  aud  is  there  ..ulled  the  En o. 
h>hBent.     It  .s  uiten  used  in  the  :nann(i.ctn,e  of   h.n- 

nets. 

FiOKix   (J<j rustic  .stoli,- 
nifera),  Vh^. ;!(),  is  onlv  a 
variety  of  En-lisli  bent, 
which  gained  great  noto- 
riety some  years  ago  in 
Ireland  and  England,  vol- 
umes having   been  writ- 
ten in  its  praise,  while  it 
received  the  execrations 
of  those    who    ioi,n,l    it 
troublesome  to  eradicjite, 
on  account  of  its   creep- 
mid     stoloniferous 


./ I'oots.     Jt   bi.|oi,i..s  j.ec-u- 
liarly    to     moist     places 
which    are     occasionally 
ovcrllowed,  and  is  some- 
times    known     as      the 

i^HOAD-LKAVl.;!)    CUKKPIXG 

Bknt.      In    the    Woi)urn 
experiments  it  was  fonn<] 
to    be    inferior  in  imtri- 
^\ye    value    to    orchaid 
gntss     {Dartjills    fihmc- 
rata)   and    meadow    W^-,. 
cwo,  and  superior 
to    meadow  fox- 
tail. A  magnified 
flower     of     this 
grass  is  shown  in 
Fig.  .",1. 


r~~ — 


u 


SOUTHKJtX     JiK.NT. 


native  .^T'''  ""'''  ^^''-^^-  '^'-Vo-)   Fi,  'V^    ■ 


^;ninco.    Itwasatono 
^'\'>^' hip;hly  counnvm]- 

was  very, s,„,n, lisciinl- 
e^J-  Jti'inii-sliesaluiv 
of  rather  .'oarso  qual- 
'^^  H.id  y.V.Id.s  a  i,^,.,.^, 

.-Muds  aii.l  ral,,-a,vons 
•^^■'■^.  It  tillers  nuich, 
;""' wlion  once  n.oted 
IS  very  vi>or„„s  and 
'''^^"J^',     and      ,.,„ise- 

qn^'nflyn.akesa  o-ood 
[ti   pasture   o.|.;t,^^_      j^   j^ 

^'""''"''  '"  ''Ppearaneo 
"  ■^'"'le  (.f  tlio  I.road- 
'''iivcd     varieties     of 

'■•■''^"1^  'i"<l  is  said  to 
v<eld  more  than  ivd- 
^OP-     It  has  stron^-er 
'""'     I'K'ie    niunerous 
'■''''•;i"""«'  '""ts,  l.road- 
eaves,  and   more 
"P'-'ght    leafy 
'Stems.       It    /s 
most  ('re([n(Mit. 
b'  "Iff  M-ith  in 
the    Sonthern 
W  ^^•*^^''^,  and  in 
tlie    south   of 
France.      Fip- 
^'i  represents 


"'■■\f''D   or; ASS.. 


"'^'"■^^     ItllEU. 


45 


^^'^^  I^een  cultivated  in  tl.^  coulit,,         '"'  "^"^"^  ^^-^ 


''^-    J*UI.Vj'U(;o.v. 


"■^-  ■^^""ie„.s  throe ;  gnun  f^ee     ^   "'^"'^'^    '''^^^^    Jong 
occasionally-  found  i..a,' ^h  m'?^'^?"  '''c>.^.e/.V....W ,   ,s 

^-^7'«'  /n>u.   ten    ,;:   i;^::''^  ^';-  t.iee  thei;^ 
;°'>";''  -"i  H  little  .ou..        n  :  ""'^'"^  '''«•''  ^-  .steu.  ert.  , 

''7    -'-ute;panitd^:^:'^'r'"'^'''''^'-^^^^^ 

-  -^'-^'uced.     Jt  i«  easily        i^fft^-^-'lonored 

«J  i  «  awns  oi-  beards.    Oino  ■^?'''''''  ">'  ^''^^  i'^nftth 

at  the  Jsle  ui'^i^nl.       V         ■'«''"-"Jtnral  value     h^        , 

^1  oiioaJs  and  on  the  erv.  .  ,  ^'ouiid 

^  ^oast  so.itlnvard. 

^J"'"es  aeute    .trnn   ,*     T^^'  ^^'"'^^  ^^^^^  ^m... 

«niootli,   naked    V         0'  '^'•^olod;   the    h,.. 

Wood    Jii^pj)    /i 
lets  are   greo-i    n>-     r        .  ^^^^  ''J«- 1      Tlu>       i 

d'r: 'r-  '"'■■'■^■'  ™"''"  -■'"  /r^- ""-'  ^-^-^ 

uincnng  from  others  in  h-.v;,,     i"     "^  ^'"■«'^^' '-ink  gra.. 


>i 


11 


46 


'illR     DROP-SEKD     CRASSKs 


Droopixo  Ke.o  Grass  ( Clnna  ,rucMa).  -  Branches 
ot  the   louse  pamelo   long  u.icl  luury,  droopin-      Snike- 
e^  about    half    the    S.0    or   tlj^.    tl^^^ 
>poc ie.      (.rou-s  :u  .no.st  woods  :  perennial,  llowering  in 
August,     round  around  Lake  Superio.'.  ^ 

Spikelots  one-fiou-ered  in  contracted  slender  panicles 
.tunes   nnnuto:    pale.e   usually  huin,   beanie  U 

base,   herbaceous,   the  lower  three-nerved,  pointed    or 
cu  ued  at  the    Up.      Stamens    three.     Xan;ed  iion   'l^- 
.Muhlenberg,  a  distinguished  American  botan,  •. 

The  AWNLES.S  MuiiLi:xiiER.;,A  (JIa/denbayia  soboUfera) 
IS  sonietmies  lound  in  open,  rocky  uoods,  irom  New 
Lngland  to  M.clngan,  and  south.     It  grows  from  one  to 

le  dl?-  1^  '  "f  '  "'"P'*^'  contracted  panicle,  very 
blende  .  ghunes  long,  pointed,  nearly  equal;  root  pe- 
rennia  ,  creeping,  woody  ;  leaves  pale-green,  shea  hs 
open,  hgule  wanting.  Flowers  in  August  and  8eptem- 
Uti.     K)i  no  known  agricultural  value. 

CLusTEiMX(;  .Mc.iEEXBERGiA  {Muhleuhergm  yhmerata). 

Inched"";  '"T  ')f  ^"■^■'''  -^^"'^  "f''-''^''^'  -'--'^=^t 

anched,    panicle   oblong,   linear,  contracted    into  an 

nterrupted  glomerate  .p.ke,   with  long  peduncles    or 

m^.staks,  and  awned   glumes;  per^nial.     Fbwe:: 

m  August  and  September.     Common  in   swamps  and 

low  grounds.     Of  no  agricultural  value. 

The  Mexicax  .Mi-hlexhercfa  {MH/denherqia  Mevi- 
rana),  another  species  of  this  genus,  has  been  mistaken 
)y  some  for  our  fowl  meadow.  It  has  an  erect  sten. 
wo  to  three  feet  high,  much  branched;  panicles  lateral 
and  contracted,  branches  densely  spiked  and  clustered 
green  or  purplish;  glumes  pointed,  awnless,  and  un' 
equal.  It  IS  perennial.  Flowers  in  August.  Frequently 
regarded   as  a  troublesome  Nyeed   in  low  .mnnds  the 


^iMl'.LK     UJLL 


-II  A  I  It     (ili.\,Sfj,^ 


47 


-"i"<;  value.  '"  '"  "'"  »<-*"»"■■,  it  is  „1- 

■r"""»   aro    ,|i/lu.,ely   brand,™!      ,.        l"'""   ^'"'"«-     "« 

'«7'i  <■"  <ln- i,i,i/L:;\:„  ;:''«-;*'■'■  Palea.      "  i^ 
"'"'  ■-^■■Pton.l.o,.;  perennial.     Ca    k  c^  'T'"  ""  -"*"»' 

oalled   n„ir   Gras..   ,  ,/       ,  7'  ''•"'"""'■  "'"  ""'i-«P«n.ly 

time.,  !•„„„,,  „„  s„„,^i;* "  r'""  v'"'";"'""'- '« -«-■ 

t"cky,  and  at  the  ^„i^     '  '"""  '^""'  '^"B' '  ">  Kon- 

»one  of  (lie  (jras.^P^  of  fl,,',   i 
gl-oat  valne  for  aK,.;,.,,,"  ,,    '  V*""""""   «"""  "l-"  "f 
-fd  co„.,idorabK.  ^Z       "'.  /"^r!''  ""'Tt  a»  they 
clothe.,  onrlow  lan.1,  ,„  ,™„tv  t   '7',"*^  ™'-''">-o  "''i'-i. 
-veil  the  heart  of  the  lovenf;.;:,;!:.  "  ''  ""  "'"  "'"' 


If 


48 


BLUK    JOINT    (;iiASS. 


11.  Bi!Ac'HYi;i,VTr;rM.        Brachi/ehifnon. 

rJluiiR's  two,  very  iiiiiiute,  lower  scarcolv  to  lie  seoii; 
lower  palu  witli  u  Ion,!-'  l>ristle  at.  the  toj),  upper  with 
ruiliiiieiitiiry  llower  at  the  hase  :   perennial. 

The  Kkkct  ML-;M,KNiii;ii(;iA,  or  Awxkd  1}i!achvkly- 
THCM  {I}r((c/ii/eli/trumarl.st'itinn),i^  olteii  tbuiiil  in  roekv 
M-oods,  on  the  sides  of  Wachnset  Mountain,  and  in  many 
otlier  similar  situations.  Flowers  in  June  and  July. 
Conunon  also  at  the  West. 


12.  CALAM.\f;i?osTis.       licetl  Bent  Grass. 

One-flowered  spikelets,  open  paniele,  eontraeted  or 
spiked;  -lunies  keeled,  about  efjual  to  the  paleie, 
around  whieli,  at  the  base,  is  a  thick  tutt  of  white 
bristly  hairs:  lower  [)ale  generally  with  a  slender  awn 
on  the  back:  stamens  three:   iii-ain  free. 

Blue  Joint  Gijass  (CalunuKjrostis  Canadensis).— 
Stems  three  to  live  feet  high,  grayish;  leaves  flat; 
panicle  often  purplish  :  the  glumes  acute,  lanceolate  : 
lower  palea  not  longer  than  the  very  fine  hairs,  bearing 
an  extremely  delicate  awn  below  the  middle,  nearly 
eipial  to  the  hairs.      Flowers  in  Julv. 

I)lue  Joint  Grass  is  very  connnon  on  low  grounds. 
It  is  generally  considered  a  valuable  grass,  and  is  eaten 
greedily  by  stock  in  the  winter,  being  thought  by  some 
to  be  nearly  as  nutritious  as  Timothy.  It  grows  so 
rank  and  luxuriant  on  soils  suited  to  it  that  an  immense 
crop  of  valuable  hay  is  often  made  from  it. 

Crowded  Calamagrostis,  or  Glaucous  Small  Rp:kd 
( Calama(/r()sfis  conrctata),  is  also  somewhat  common  in 
our  wet  meadows,  open  swamps,  and  along  low  river 
banks.  Its  stems  are  from  three  to  Ave  feet  high  :  seed 
hairy,  crowned  with  a  bearded  tuft ;  lower  palea  shorter 


BKACII     fJRA.SS, 


4!) 


.>arly 


au'ii  al.ove  the  middle.  ^     '  -^'""'^ 

l"«i.,  c-cct,  leave,.  .;«.,';,%,,.::.;:'''"'■  't 

■ii»<i.^.nis,i!' -J ',,;:',  :r;,^^''''--' ■■""«''■  ■'■1,1.;.. 

<-''"",lf.l   iMMiele  ,   '         ""'■"  "'""'■-•'■  ^""I  less 

places.      '  """'■'''''■"  '"   -™'>'I-  -„l    1,0,.., 

'/r<Kl!s  nm,ay!r    n,-    I,         7v    '  Grass  ( CVifewa. 

cul.n,  from  stout  ,„ots  ,-,„,„i„g  of  '  ,  t„    |  L"^    '  "  """'} 
twenty  o,-  thirty  feet ;  leaves',"  ler^tl  oir"/ 

t-;rt;:::i-;rt:^-::"ti:':i,} 

aga,„s.  the  «,c,oaehu,e,„s  ol  ihe  o,'™,?         *  ''""■ 


I 


50 


CULTLTHl'J    (H-     llEACH     GRASS. 


This  jjjniss  if  very  prenenilly  diffused 
oil  scii-coiists  ovi'i  tliu  world,  iind  is 
loiiii'l  iiiliiiid  on  tlie  shores  of  fjiike  Su- 
pciior.  It  liiis  also  Ix'cii  cultiviitcd  hy 
way  of  oxpiMiiiiciit,  and  with  siu-t-ess, 
I  l/'ififffi  ""  ^^^^  '^"iids  !it  Ijowell,  Massat'lmsetts^ 

"' '  and  still  further  up  ou  the;  iianks  of  the 
Merrimack  River.  Tliouj:;li  not  culti- 
vated for  agricultural  puiixiscs,  it  is  of 
great  value  in  protecting  sandy  heaches. 
It  is  preserved  m  Kngland  and  Scot- 
land l>y  act  of  parhanient.  Flowers  in 
August. 

In  the  year  18r,i,I  was  requested  by 
the  late  T.  W.  Harris  to  make  this  gra^s 
a  special  study,  in  the  course  of  my  ob- 
servations ;  and  since  that  time  I  have 
tried,  by  personal  inquiries  and  by  cor- 
resj)ondence,  to  collect  whatever-  there 
might  be  of  interest  in  relation  to  it. 
As  it  is  of  national  importance  in  pro- 
tecting our  sandy  coasts,  some  account 
of  its  culture  may  not  be  inappropriate 
or  uniuterestuig. 

The  town  of  Provincetown,  once 
called  Cape  Cod,  where  the  Pilgrims 
first  landed,  and  its  harbor,  still  called 
the  harbor  of  Cape  Cod,  —  one  of  the 
best  and  most  important  in  the  United 
States,  sufficient  in  de{)th  for  ships 
Fig.  34.  Beach  Grass,  of  the  largest  sizc,  and  in  extent  to 
anclior  three  thousand  vessels  at  once, —  owe  their  pres- 
ervation to  this  grass.  To  an  inhabitant  of  an  inland 
country,  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  the  extent  and  the 
violence  with  which  the  sands  at  the  extremity  of  Cape 


ACTION    OF     DIUFTING    SAND. 


51 


><   .  H'    l.ro  vn  up  fro.n  the  depths  of  the  .sea,  and  left 

•  "   the      each   ,n   thousunds  oi'  tons,  hv  everv   .Irivinj. 

ton.       I  hese  sand-hills,  when  dmurhv  thJ  s„n     "I 

l.urled  by  the  winds  into  the  harbor  and  .'.pun  th      [.wn 

A  correspondent  at  Provineetown  savs :  "  Beaeh  ar    s 

--dtohavebeenenl<ivatedhore\.  oarbasl     ^ 
Before  t   .t  tnue,  when  the  s.nd  drifted  down  upon  the 

>'oken,--to  save  then.  Iron,  burial,  the  only  reso.-t  u-as 
<  •'-'"..•  .t  oir  with  barrows.  Th„,s  ton.s  were  r t 
nu^ed  every  year  fVon.  plaees  that  a,-e  now  perCec  Iv 
ecnre  .-om  the  .Inlti...  of  sand.  Indeed/^ril 
not  CH-  the  w.ndow-glass  in  son.e  of  the  oldet  houses 
in   these   lon.hties,  you  woul.l    be   ready  to   den^   ^ 

to  t  ...d  so  10..O-  aoan.st  this  glass,  as  to  make  it  per- 
./  %  ground.  1  know  of  son.e  windows  through  which 
3  ou  cannot  see  an  object,  except  to  ren.ind  you  of  th^ 
passage  where  men  were  seen  'as  trees  wallcin.'  " 

ong,-ess  approp.-iated,  between  the  years  1826  and 
18.,9,  about  twe..ty-e,ght  thou.sand  dollars,  which  were 
expended  ,n  settn.g  out  beach  g.-ass  nea;  the  vi" 
ot    Prov„.cetown      or   the    protection   of  the   har  o. 
From    he  seed  of  this  grass  it  is  estin.ated  that  nay 
US  much  ground  has  become  planted  with  it  as  was  ^^v 
ered  by  the  national  government.     Jn  1854  five  thousand 
.lollars  were  w.sely  expended  by  the  general    govern 
ment  m  adding  to   the  work  :  and   the  experfefclof 
ormer  years  was  of  great  value  to  the  efficiency  of  thr. 
latter  efibrt.     The  wo.-k  of  fortification  or^o    c  i  >      J 
not  yet  complete.      The  eastern  part  of  tl.et  b 
nnich   exposed   to   injn.-y   from  the    sand,   which    now 
einpies  Itself  by  thousands  of  tons,  during  every  no  tl 
wind,  into  it.  *'  ^vci_y  noun 

"  It  may  be  proper  to  state,"  says  the  writer  quoted 


62 


Ft  A  IS  I  \(;    -riiK    iti:.\(  II, 


( 


I     i 


111 
» 


above.  ••  tliat  (his  town  dues  imieli  in  the  wnv  nf  •/>,((,/>. 
[Ii-Hsfiunf  hy  its  '  hi'dvlHimsn  vo.inintftv;  whose  dutv  it  is 
to  enter  any  man's  enclosure,  siimnier  in-  winter,  and 
set  out  grass,  if  the  sand  is  uncovered  and  niovahh-. 
By  this  means  we  are  now  rid  of  sand-storms,  which 
were  once  the  terror  ..f  the  phice,  being-  s.m.etiiiM-  lik,. 
snow-storms,  lor  (b-ilts,  wliich  were  to  be  remov,-d. 
Our  streets  are  now  hardened  with  cluy,  ^v|,i,.h  ha> 
been  imported:  mid.  instead  of  its  being  buried.  „s  it 
W(mM  once  have   be,...  in  a  C-w  days.  I  nofi,.,.   tliat  the 

surveyors  have  to  resort  to  sprinkhng  it  witli   sa 

wet   weather,  so   elleetuiilly  has   tiie   eulture   of   beacl 
grass  answered  its  end. 

"  The  nuxlo  of  culture  is  very  simple.  The  grass  is 
pulled  up  by  hm.d  and  place.l  in  a  hole  ubout'^a  Ibot 
deep,aiid  the  wind  pressed  <lowii  about  it.  'I'hese  holes 
are  dug  about  one  foot  and  a  hall' apart.  The  spring  is 
the  usual  time  of  planting,  though  many  do  this  work 
111  the  fall  or  winter.  The  roots  oC  the  grass.  Irom 
which  it  soon  covers  the  ground,  are  very  long.  1 
have  noticed  them  ten  feet,  and  1  suppose  upon  l.igh 
hills  they  extend  down  into  wet  >and."' 

Many   years   ago,  the    beach   which   connects   Truro 
and  Provineetown   was  broken  over,  and  a  considei.t- 
ble   body  of  it   swept   away.      Beach  grass   was   imm;- 
diately  planted,  and  the   l,each  was  thus  ra,sed  to  suffi- 
cient height,  and  in  some  places  nito  hills.     The  opera- 
tion of  it  is  like  that  ..f  ])rush  or  bushes,  cut  and  laid 
upem  the  grouiKb  in  accumulating  siiow^  in  a  drifting 
wind.     The  sand  is  collected  around  the  gras>.  find,  as 
the  sand  rises,  the  grass  also  rises  to  overtop  it,  and 
will  continue  to  grow,  no  matter  how  high  the  aand-hil! 
may  rise:  and  this  process  goes  on  over  the  whole  sur- 
flice  of  the  plantation,  and  thus  many  acres  havt   been 
raised  far  above  their  original  level. 


I 


JMM)Ti;cTKI)     liV     f,A\\' 


53 


v,,^f  ir..„i  ,       •   ,  •    "'I'liii,  aiKi  tl)(3  ciirrL'iit   n 


""lyonovrursin,,.,  isnouMiio 


cliiuiiiel.  with  hK    i;,.f    ,.c  „.  *         .1  '  '"   """  "'*^ 

1714.     Tl,c^  h     r;      ,  ■  '"•",'""•''  *"  '""■«  '"-■-'  "> 

iuc  n)\vn  was  iiicoi-Monitcd    1.  1707         i 

tlmt  tirno  a  place  of  some  exte         b  n   If'     V  T'  "' 
'"  IS24  c.o,„mi«si„„o,-H  were  uppointe.l  i,v  ti.e  state 


'ul 


5-1 


ANNUAL     1'LANT1N(;. 


government  to  exfvmine  the  subject,  and  report  what 
action  was  necessary  to  prevent  the  rapid  destruction 
of  the  harbor.  They  recommended  an  act  to  prevent 
the  destruction  of  beach  grass,  and  reported  that  tiie 
sum  of  thirty-six  hundred  doHars  would  be  necessary 
to  set  out  that  ])lant,  make  fences,  A-c.  Tiie  Legisla- 
ture,  in  1826,  applied  to  Congress  for  that  sum;  and  Con- 
gress has,  at  dilferent  times,  made  appropriations  to  the 
amount  of  about  thirty-eight  thousand  ilollars,  which 
seem  to  have  failed  in  some  measure  to  accomplish 
the  ob;  .  intended,  and  Kast  Harbor  is  still  rapidly 
fining  up. 

jMany  years  ago,  it  was  as  customary  to  warn  the 
inhabitants  of  Truro  and  some  other  towns  on  the 
Cape,  every  spring,  to  turn  out  to  plant  beach  grass, 
as  it  was  in  the  inland  towns  to  turn  out  and  mend  the 
roads.  This  was  required  by  hiw,  with  suitable  penal- 
ties for  its  neglect,  and  took  place  in  April. 

A  liirmer,  of  much  practical  knowledge  of  this  sub- 
ject, says  :  "  Since  the  cattle  have  been  kei)t  from  the 
beaches,  by  the  act  of  the  Legislature  of  182(5,  the 
grass  and  shrubs  have  sprung  up  of  their  own  accord, 
and  have,  in  a  great  measure,  in  the  westerly  part  of 
the  Cape,  accomplished  wjiat  was  intended  to  bo  done 
by  planting  grass.  It  is  of  no  use  to  plant  grass  on 
the  high  parts  of  tlie  beach.  Tlant  on  the  lowest  parts 
and  they  will  raise,  while  the  highest  places,  over  which 
the  grass  will  spread,  are  levelling  by  tlu>  wind.  To 
preserve  the  beacJi,  it  must  be  kept  as  level  as  possible. 

"  Beach  grass  is  of  but  little  value  except  to  prevent 
our  loose,  sandy  beaches  from  being  drifted  about  by 
the  wind.  We  have  but  one  species,  and  this  is  fast 
spreading  over  our  upland,  making  it  useless  for  culti- 
vation. Land  that  would  ])roduce  from  twentv  to 
twenty-five    bushels  of  Indian   corn  to  the  acre,  with- 


BLACK     MuUNTAIxV     lUCE.  55 

c    t.       f  ,|,„  dc,„l  Brass  U  lM„„t  „|f  ,„  t„„  „,„.in,..  tt 
.1  make  a  |„-ctty  ,o<k1  pasture  for  cat.ie  a„.l  1  ^.sL 
keeps  gree,,  longer  tl,a„  a,,v  oH„,r  grass  we  1  r  ve' 

nead,  grass  seems  lu  require  the  assistauee  of  some 
l.»tu,b,  ,g  causes  to  en.Wo  it  to  attain  its  full  peHfee; 
t..n,  1  he  clr,v„,g  winds  iu  some  loealities  arf  , ffi 
cent  winle  ,„  other  plaees,  where  it  ,lo..s  no  ,h  e 
»"  well  ,t  ,s  probable  that  an  iron-tootl,  harr ,  v  v  |,1 
greatly  improve  and  aid  its  growth     It  I,.,  ■  , 

sivei,  cultivated  or  prop^gatx  iiL '  Te  r,:;;;::,'; 

parts  of  Cape  lod,  on  Xantueket,  and  in  fact 
deral,  e  extent  all  along  our  coast.  It  con.e  i,  o 
tself  along  Nantasket  beach  from  seed  borne  n  the 
Ndes,  probably  fr„,n  the  Cape.  It  has  been  e.x^e nsivllv 
used,  at  tnnes  „,  this  country,  (br  the  manulactu  e  of 
coarse  paper  though,  if  I  .-un  rightly  inforn,ed,  its  „"„. 
ufacture  has  oeen  -liseoniinucd  in  .Massachusetts  n 
".her  countnes  it  is  manufocturcd  into  dooranats'  a, 

into  lopes  ior  various  purposes. 

'•'•  ^^'^^■^oi'S''^-  Mountain  like. 

Spikelets  groonish  unrl  nitlier  large,  oue-Howcr...!  • 
Tl,..,,  fi, .    n  1  '   "^*^av  eqiifvl,  awn  OSS,    loimer 

a  the  ohloi.o.  llowor:  scales  linear,  long  as  tleo  ary- 
iniloreseenee  ni  narrou-  panicles.  "^ ' 

Black  Mountalv  Wive  ((h'i,zoi.h  melauorarpa)  \.  •,, 
common  grass  m  dry,  ro.ky  woo.ls,  witl,  a  leafv  s  on 


1 


H 


le  seed  blackish  wli 


en  ripe,  the  lower  one 


oG 


WHITE    iMOL.NTAlIV     KICE. 


surronndiiiu-  tl.e  a]iper,  Avith   a  straig-lit  awn  at  tlio  tip 
nearly  an  inch  Ion-      Staiiieu.s  tliree,  anthers  linear,  yel- 
low; styles  distinct.    Flowers  in  August.    Not  cultivated. 
White    Mountain    K,ce    {Ori/zoims    aspn-ifoJh,)   is 
:ilso  connnon  on  steep,  rocky  hillsides,  and  in  dry  woods. 
Keins  clasped  by  sheaths,  bearing  a  mere  rudinientai'v 
l)lade,  overtopped  by  the  long  and  rigid  linear  leaf  Iron 
the   base  ;   awn  two  or  three   times   tl.e   length  of  the 
hairy  whitish  husks  or  indea..    Perennial,  growing  IVom 
a  loot  to  eighteen   inches   high.      The  lower  or  I'a.lical 
leaves   remain  green  through   the   winter.     The   lar..-e 
seeds  are  abundantly  farinaceous,  and  make  a  very  whi'Je 
and  fine  flour;   but  the  grain  drops  so  easily  as  to  make 
It  impracticable  to  gather  it  in  large  (piantities. 

Smallest  Oin'.oi.sis,  or  Canadian  Rice  {Onjzopsi, 
Uciuu(en.sis),  is  another  species  sometimes  found  These 
grasses  are  easily  distinguished  from  each  oth,M-  The 
tirst  has  an  awn  thrice  the  length  of  the  blackish  palea  • 
the  second,  an  awn  two  or  three  times  the  length  of  the 
whitish  palea:  the  third,  an  awn  short,  .leciduous,  ,>r 
wantmg.  The  first  grows  from  two  to  three  feet  high  • 
the  second,  from  ten  to  eighteen  inches;  the  third 
Irom  s.x  to  fifteen  inches.  Natural  habitat,  dry,  rocky 
woods.      Perennial.     Not  culrivated. 

It  may  be  proper  to  remark,  in  passing,  that  many 
grasses  which  are  now  worthless,  or  of  no  known  value 
in  agriculture,  might  be  made  very  useful  to  cultivate 
tor  the  purpose  of  turn^.g  in  green  for  manure. 

Ihe  same  may  be  sr.id  of  many  of  th..  rank  weeds 
which  are  now  regarded  as  the  pests  of  onr  fields  and 
roadsides._  Som.>  of  them,  if  sown  on  winter  grain, 
would  spring  up  luxuriantly  after  the  grain  was  removed' 
drawing  much  of  their  nutriment  from  the  air,  ami  cor- 
ponlying  it,  as  it  were,  to  be  turner 


with  the  .stubl 


in  while  still 


Li'een 


'-e. 


and  thus  add  vastly  to  the  fertility 


fEATHEll    (ilJASS, 


and 


r^i-Oi 


:luctivciioss  of  the  soil. 


0( 


kinds  which  prod 
and  a  hv^e,  j 
pt-'reniiijil 


lice  ii  lai 


For  t\ 


lis  purpose  those 


K<-^  luxuriant  g'rowiii  of  I 


ge  quantity  of  suimII  seed 


miiils  with  spriuP' 

r  MI  o 


^  might  be  sown  with 


eaves,  f.re  hest.     The 
winter  grains,  the  pu- 


Tl 


|<J  practice  of  turin"n< 


not   uf   recent 


ki: 


or 


in  green  crops  foi-  m 


mure  i.« 


^"'";   but  the  cl 


seeded  a-i 


grasses,  have 
Jiut 


g'"-      Its    benehts    hav,;    |,een    1 
overs,   buckwheat,  an<l  other  J 


on 


fc> 


pose. 

since  their  seed^ 

only  cost,  indeed,  bein-Tl 


generally  l)een 


Jiiany  other  plants 'offer  a  cl 
s  are  smaller  and   I 


irge- 
iised  for  this  pur- 


le  ex 


leaper  sul)stitute, 
[lensive,  the 


ess  ex 


pense  of  gatherhio-. 


U.  S 


'i'\]>.\. 


s 


p.- 


a  slender  stal 
longer  thai,  tl 
tipped  witl 
the  I 


one-fl 


Feather  Grass. 


!owered:  flowers  stipitate  or  I 


le 


,  pit  - 

glumes  e.pial,  inenibran 


aceout 


I  II  very  Ion 


limes,  thick,  and  leathorv^  the'  1 


borne  on 
l>ales 


»ase 


seed 


■scale 


g  awn,  bent  above,  aiid  t 


'•<^"<'e  m  spreading  panicles.     I 
one  to  two  i'eet  high. 


roun.led  or  cylindrical,      hifl 


ower 
\visted  at 


ore* 


erennial,  growing  from 


Fk 


I 


yruKnduAHS  iSffpapenmta) 


eautiful  of  this  genu.- 
'oiig  and  featherv,  risi 


i«  one  of  the  most 


fial 


uea,  and  ofren  more  than  t 


^-      I  he  awn  of  the  floret 
iig  from  the  summit  of  tl 


IS  very 
le  outer 


with  the 


exception   of  an   inch  at  the  1 


wenty  times  its  length,  and 


twisted,   soft    and    leathery  tl 


'iiso,  which    h 


Tl 


le  root  U 


irough   Its  whole  len-.-tl 


peremual  and  fil,rous;  the  stem  erect 


^"looth,  hollow,  from  eid.t 


round 


sliearhs  of  the  1 


Stigmas  feati 


,.    een  niches  to  two  feet  hbdi 
eaves  roughish,  and  covering  the  joints, 


Tl 


lis  grass  is  well  kno\N  i,  for  it 


'iiltivated 


in 


ornament? 


ill  dry 


gardens,  and  gatherecrfo 
It  grows  wild  i 


s  great  beauty,  and 


IS 


r  vase 


n   iiianv 


andv  soils. 


and  pari  )r 
parts  of  Germany, 


lU 


eUAHDSUXS   FkaTHER  (Sf>)>a    Itlrh 


^Kirdso)!)!)  ig 


a  s 


ipe- 


58 


BLACK    OAT    GliAS.s. 


f  i:  4 


Sii  :-; 


cies  nrowiiig  wild  in  the  vicinity  ol'  Schago  Lake,  in 
Maine,  aiK  some  other  i)lares.  (Humes  nearly  equal, 
oblong;  panicle  loose,  slendiT  braiielies,  jwvn  of  the 
palea  twisted.     Of  no  agricultural  value. 

Black  Oat  (in.vss  {SfijHi  air- 
nacca)  i.s  sometimes  met  with  in 
^\ry,  sandy  woods,  hut  is  of  no 
agricultural  value.  It  rises  from 
one  to  two  (cct  :  its  })ai.icle  is 
open,  leaves  ahiitist  i)ristle-lorm, 
palea  blackish,  nearly  as  long  as 
the  almost  e(|ual  glumes;  awn 
bent  above,  twisted  helcw. 

It  is  one  ol'  the  pi'airie  grasses 
of  Michigan,  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
ttc.,  and  is  conunou  at  the  i^outh, 
flowering  in  June  and  July.  Fig. 
35  rcfii-esents  the  jjanicle  of  this 
grass,  with  the  naked  glumes, 
while  the  upper  palea  and  its  bent 
and  twisted  awn  is  seen  in  Fii:. 
36. 

PoRt'UPLVE  Grass  (Sfipa  .spar, 
ten)  has  a  shorter,  contracted  pan- 
icle, a  stouter  stem,  rising  Irom 
one  to  three  feet  high  :  glumes 
loose,  greenish,  slender,  jtointed, 
longer  than  the  ])alete  ;  awn  stioiiij- 
and  twisted,  from  three  to  six 
inches  long,  downy  below,  and 
rough  above. 

'J'liis  is  another  prairie  grass  of 
Illinois,  Iowa,  and  the  north-west- 
ward, and  is  also  a  native  of  southern  Europe  and  north- 
ern Africa.    It  is  not  u  culli\ated  urass. 


Fig.  35.      niaek  Oat  Grass. 


Trni'J.I.;     A-.VN     GHASSKS. 


5!) 


15.  AiMSTinA.      Three-awnecl  GmsH. 
Flowers  stipifato  c,r  on  stalks  :  g-l„mes  nnequul,  olten 
iM.stlo-po.nted:  paloH>  two,   lower  iippod  with  a  trini 
a^v^n   upper  s,uulle,;uwnless;  ova.y  iLuth,  sea  es      -o 
smo,,tI,^„tn-e  ;  sp.kelets  ,n  sin.pio  or  paniJied  racen.^ 

I'ovERTv  Grass  (Ari.tida  Moiona)  is  k„own  by  its 
ufterl  stems  or  euln.s  being  mueh  lurked  or  branel.ed 
from  five  to  fifteen  inches  higli.  Spikelcts  small,  erowded 
in  short,  eontracted  raeemes ;  side  awns  minute  ;  middle 
no  longer  than  the  j.tlea,  bent  downwards.  Common  in 
<•  <  .  'Iry,  sterile  fields,  especially  at  the  Houth,  and  in 
lllniois  and  adjacent  states. 

THREE.AWX,.:n   Grass  {Arhthia  mmosis.shna),  -  Stems 
diffuse;  spdced  raceme  loosely  flowered  :  glumes  three 

bet   back    an   n.ch   long.     Found  on  dry  prairies  of 
Illinois,  and  ni  Kentucky. 

Slkndkr  Tmrkk-awnki)   Grass  {Ari,tida  qraciUs)  is 

asofoundmold,sandyfields,dry:sterilehiLd      Lid 
P  ne  barrens    but  ,s  of  no   value  for  cultivation.      It 
sf^m  us  slender  and  erect,  lateral  awns  as  long  as  t  e 
palea.     ^even  found  except  on  the  poorest  soil! 

Downy   Tr,,.!  h    Awx     ^Jristida    .v/./c^.)-- Leave, 
straight,  erect,  ngid,  downy:  lowc>r  palea  smooth      wn 
.prca^.g,  t^ie  m.ddle  one  longest;  glles  unec^n d,'^:  ^ 
o.nted.     I  erenn.al.      Grows    from  two  to    hree  fee 
h.glMn  rocky  and  shaded  places,  in  .Alichigan   IHino^ 
^  ngUHa,  and  southwar.l.     Of  no  value  for  c-ult'i.llrn   ' 

rou!!^rbut  I?''''-   -1?    ^'''''^'"    P'";nra.ce.s)    h.s 
lougn   but  less  rmid    eaves-  Invm.    ..  i  ,        . 

111.       ,        ^       iirivcs,  jouei    p 'lea  rou!<h   w  t  i 
slender   atom    no,.v«„  .   ....m.ji_  '.     .     '"-'"^">"iiu 


lateral  nerves 


mon  from  M 


middle 


assacliusetts 


wn  an  inch  long.     Coni- 


to  Illinois  and  southward 


-    31 


1    1 


00 


MA  Its  II    (;rah. 


I'liAiifiK  Tnu'hK  Awx  (Jri.sti(/aoll,j(nif//a)  is  a  species 
round  by  Michaux  on  tlio  i)rairies  ol'  Illinois,  with  a 
straiju-ht.  erect  stem,  lirancliing  helow  ;  spikelets  lar^o, 
distant,  ^olltaly,  alternate,  sliort-pedieelled :  glumes 
e(|uiilliug  the  llower;  awns  long,  the  lateral  a  little 
shorter  than  the  middle.  Found  also  in  Virginia  aud 
to  tlio  southwestu'ai'd. 

I.o\<;-A\vM;n  1'oviorty  Oijass  (Jfi.^iu/a  tuhvrcalom).  — 
Stem  branched  below,  tunn'd  at  the  joints;  panicles 
K)ose,branelung  in  pairs,  one  of  whicii  is  short  and  two- 
Howered.  tiie  other  longer  and  several-flowere.l  :  glumes 
longer  than  the  palea,  which  is  tipped  with  the  common 
stalk  of  the  three  bent  awns,  twisting  together  at  the 
base.  It  is  found  on  sandy  soils,  !rom  New  Knuland  to 
Wisconsin  It  is  one  of  the  prairie  grasses  ot  Illinois 
and  southward. 


16.  Spartina. 


Alursli  Grass. 


>l)ikelets  one-flowered,  very  flat,  in  two  rows  on  the 
outer  side  ot  a  triangular  rachis  :  glumes  compressed, 
keeled,  pointed  an<l  rough,  bristly  on  the  keel ;  stamens 
tliree  :  styles  long,  united. 

Fi;i:sH  Watkr  Cord  Grass,  or  Tali,  MAnsir  Grass 
{SjxniiNa  a/NOsuroU/es).  —This  is  found  on  the  banks 
of  streams  and  lakes,  rising  to  the  height  of  from  two  to 
four  feet,  with  slender  culm,  narrow  leave,s,  two  to  four 
feet  long,  tapering  to  a  point,  smooth  except  (.n  the 
margins  :  ^pikcs  of  a  straw-color,  five  to  fourteen  in 
number,  spreading,  glumes  awn-pointed.  Found  in 
Wisconsin,  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  .Michigan,  and  Minne- 
sota.    Flowers  in  August. 

Tiiio  Sai/f  Hkki)  (;r.\.ss  iSjHirtlna  jjohjsfachya)  has  a 
stout  culm,  from  four  to  nine  feet  high  ;  broad  leaves, 
loughish  underneath  and  on  the  margins;  sp.ikcs  twenty 


lOOTHACIII.;     (;i!ASS 


MCSKfT 


(Jl 


to   fifty 


m  imnihci-  I'oiniii 


I'l-^toi-.      It  is  i 


IS   a    (Iciisc 


iow 


'"""'   <"'   '^iilt   iiiid    lirackisl 


''l<)ii,U'.  juirplish 


Ri 


I'igli  tide,  especially  soiitliuani 
■SH  Salt  Ouass  (%//•// 


1  inarslies,  | 


le- 


to  two  leet  Iiij-li,  stem  slender   I 


ltd,  jHiicni)   n-,-„\vs  1 


I'oni  Olio 


and 


vory  smooth.     It   it 


loaves  iianov.',  lush-likt 


sun 


sea-heaclies,  and  11 


owers  ill  A 


fly 


SaltMaissh  ('nx^^^^iSparlinusinrt 


•ommon  on  salt  marsh 


iL's  ami 


iia-ust. 


to  throe  foot  hi-h,  leafy  (o  the  top,  an.ri 


'")  ,q'ro\vs  from  01 


10 


to  four  spikes.      Gl 


las  irom   two 


niarshos.  1 


"inos  pointed,  vory  iine(|ual.     Salt 


oiiiisylvania,  and  South 


Hou(;ir  .Marsh  G 


HAss  { Spartlitd  (jhth 


tlu'  last,  is  found  cotmnonlv  on  tl 
Kno'land  southward,  witi 


tl 


1  stem  and  leav 


>'''i),  a  variety  of 
10  seaoo{i.st  from  Xew 


"in  the  preceding,  and  spikelets  from  fiv 


OS  rather  lone 


er 


crowded 

Smooth  MAnsir  G 
variety  of  salt-marsi 


three  to  live  inches  lonj>-.     It  1 
odor,  and  is  comi 


IIASS  (SjKirtuia  aJfcrniJI, 
'i  ft-i-ass,  with   spil 


o  to  twelve, 


'ora),  another 


kos  more  slender 


las   a  sti 


lion  with  the  last. 


''»",S  and   rancid 


m 


If  ■ 


17.  Ctkxhjm. 


Olnmes  persistent,  low 


'Jhofhiiclie  (. 


rl'd-SS. 


below,  with  a  stout 
Flowers  four  to  si.\. 


01-  one  smaller,  upper  coi 


leave 


a|vn  bent  like  a  horn  on  the  bad 


neuti 


a!  hut  OIK 


St 


rooTiiAcHi:  Grass  (6Vo//.^/M  Ame 
iree  to  four  feet  high,  witI 
onger  glume  warty  and'  awned.     It 


uueiis  till 


CO 


tl 


nam  Km)  ri 


St 


's  ! 


1  a  simple  roughish  st 


roiii 
cm  ; 


pine  barrens  of  New  J 


value. 


orsey,  but  is  of  no 


is  found  in  the  wet 


ao'i 


•icult 


lira  I 


Ices   short,  solit 


18.   Routkloua.       Gramma  G. 


n'v,  racemed 


^pi 


tu-o  to   three  flowered',  the   terminal  fl 


amma  Wdsn. 

"'^s  alternate, 

ower  imjierfect. 


i 


'•\i 


iM 


IP' 


■W'li 


I 

I 

I; 


m 


fe: 

i 


I 


(ii' 


Gh 


MUSKIT.  — BEARD    GRASS. 


lines  two.  keeled,  the  upper  layer  sliorter  than  tht 


Ri 


.achis 


flowers.    Stamens  three,  antliers  orange  or  red. 
exten(lin,t;'  lieyond  the  spikelets. 

MusKiT,    .Mksquit,    or    Mezquite    Grass    {Bouteloun 
oVuiosUichya),  grows   from  six  to  twelve   inches   high, 
leaves  narrow,  spikes  one  to  five  ;  glumes  and  lower 
fertile'  palea  slightly  hairy,  triple  f  .vned.     Westward 
Iowa  and  Miiniesota.  ' 

Bristly  Muskit  {BonteJoua  hirsuta)  grows  in  tufts 
from  eight  to  twenty  inches  high;  leaves  fiat,  lance- 
like, hairy;  lower  glume  rough,  with  stiff  hairs  from 
dark  warty  glands  :  lower  palea  downy. 

Hairy  Muskit  [Boutdoua  curtipenduJa)  grows  in 
tufts  from  perennial  roots,  one  to  three  feet  high ; 
sheaths  often  hairy,  leaves  narrow,  spikes  thirty  to 
sixty  ill  number,  ffowers  rough;  the  sterile  are  reduced 
to  a  single  small  awn,  or  to  three  awns  shorter  than  the 
fertile  flower. 

^fuskit  or  Mesquit  grass  is  cultivated  to  considerable 
extent  in  some  parts  of  the  South,  as  in  Louisiana,  and 
has  become  a  favorite  grass  in  many  sections.  A'ery 
satisfactory  experiments  with  it  have  also  been  made 
in  Virginia. 


10.    (rVMNOPOGON. 


Beard  Graas. 


Spikelets  one-flowered,  perfect,  with  a  rudiment  of 
a  second  ;  glumes  awl-shaped,  keeled,  nearly  ecpial  ; 
stamens  three  ;  stigmas  purple,  pencil-shaped  ;  leaves 
short,  flat,  and  thick. 

Xaked  Beard  Grass  (Gipnnoim(pn  raccmosus)  grows 
ill  clusters,  wiry,  leafy,  spikes  flower-bearing  to  the 
base  ;  glumes  pointed  about  half  the  length  of  the  awn 
of  the  fertile  flower.  Common  on  the  pine  barrens  of 
New  Jersey,  and  at  the  South. 


1 


BEKMUDA     GRASS.— 


K'JVI'TIAN    r.R\ 


8S. 


63 


Shor'i 


rr-LEAv,.;.,  Heahu  Grass  {G^mnuj^oyon  hrcd/Uins) 

'-'ger   I>oat-s|,ape;i.     Stan.e      tCo     7veon  n"''''  '"''' 
iiiiils.  luicc.     Lieepiiiy  pcrun- 

~«ln,nos    very  no  t  Iv         ^'f '^'^^  ^.?^''«^^'>'^  ^^'"^^0.  ). 
P'tles  sinootli;  stems  .moo  I.    ]  nil  ^'''^ ' 

'"'•so,  with   fo,„.   c,    (,•-,'        ^''^'  ^''"''^"^^^  '-^t  t'"^^ 

It  grows  aUundantly  on  fI,H  W« .+  t  j-    t  , 

in  the  «,„ti,o™  „,„,  of  e":^'"^ '^'r''^""'' 

e^teeme,!  ,«  a  very  valuable  gral  ''  "      '"  "  " 

Reeled,  the  .,;;..  o„:tS^,^^^^ 

,...„.  ^  ,,        '^"^^'  ^«  this  fi-enus,  is  found  in  euhi- 


vated   fields   and 
Stems  diffuse,  oftei 


yard 


s    in   V 


creepmg  at  tlie  ba 


"•^'nia   and    southward. 


se  :  spikes  four 


ill 


M 


■ 


' 


64 


CIlOl'    (iRASS. 


or  five  .    lofivos  hairy  at   tlic   liasc.  It    is  a  trouhlo- 

soinu  aiiiiual   weed,   introduced   IVoiii  Kur()|ie.      Found 
also  in  illiiioi>. 

'2'2.   Klhi'sini;.  Croj)  CZ/vrs.s. 

Spiki'lets  two  (o  six  IIdw  ered,  ()verla|»i»ing  eaeli  otlicr 
in  close  spikes  on  one  side  of  a  llattisli  racliis;  spikes  di<;- 
itate,  clustered:  ^-iiuncs  awnless  jind  pnintless;  stamens 
three;  ])alea  awnless  and  pdintle.--. 

CROI'     (JliASS.   ClJAl!    (Jl.'ASS,    Wll!l-;    (  i  1!  ASS.  ( 'l!OU'"S-l'OOT 

[EiiNniiie  linlica).  —  Stems  ascending',  llattened,  liraneli- 
ing' at  theliase:  s[)ikes  two  to  live,  greenish. 

This  is  an  annual,  and  flowers  through  the  season, 
growing  from  eight  to  liiteen  inche.-  high,  and  forming  a 
line  green  cari)eting  in  lawns  and  yards.  It  is  indigo- 
nous  in  Mississippi,  Alahama,  and  adjoining  states,  and 
serve>  for  hay,  grazing,  and  tuining  under  as  a  fertilizer. 
It  grows  there  with  such  luxuriance,  in  many  sections,  as 
never  to  require  sowing,  and  yields  a  good  croj)  where 
many  of  the  more  ntirthern  grasses  would  fail. 


'j;>.    LKPTOfllT.OA. 


Slender  Grass. 


i  \ 


Spikelets  three  to  many  flowered,  loosely  spiked  on 
one  side  of  a  long,  thread-like  rachis :  glumes  mernhni- 
naceous,  keeled,  sometimes  awl-pointed  :  lower  palea 
three-nerved,  and  larger  than  the  upper.  Stamens  two 
or  three. 

roiNTKD  Slkxdkh  Grass  {LeptocMoa  inxcroiiata)  is  an 
annual,  growing  from  two  to  three  leet  high,  and  flow- 
ering in  August.  Sheaths  hairy :  spikes  from  twenty 
to  forty,  two  to  four  inches  long,  in  a  long  panicle-like 
raceme  ;  glumes  pointed,  about  e<pialling  the  three  or 
four  awnless  flowers.  Found  in  fields  from  Virginia  to 
Illinois,  and  southward. 

Clustkrinm;  Si.i:xnF:R  Grass  (Leptochloa  fascicularis). 
—  Spikelets  seven  to  eleven  floweied,  longer  than  the 


TALr,    i(i;i»T(>i', 


Go 


glumes,  sn.ootl,  :  l.av.-s  Icno-,,.  tlnn,  tl.o  hcM.t  I.m.u-h- 
ng  .stem.s,  uIm...  a.v  IVon.  eight  (u  iir.e.u  inel.es  In,,,.. 
the  upper  .sheuth  fbnning  the  Uise  ul'  the  pauicle-lik;' 
mcen.e;  paleju  Imiry,  nia.-^ined  towards  the  l.ase  the 
l-wor  hav,„,u.  „vo  s„,all  lateral  teeth,  and  an  awa  at  the 
elett  of  the  apex. 

Pound  in  bniekish  „ia,'shes  on  the  coast  fron,  Rh.Ml.. 
Island  southu-anl.  and  IVu.n  Illh.ois  sonthwa.'d  on  the 
.Mississippi  Hiver.     Fhnvis  ii,  August. 

-4.  'ridccsi'is. 

Sjjikelots  th,-ee  to  tuvlve  i|owe,-cd:  glumes  unoqnal : 

'■'   I'isol     he    sp.ke  I.eai-de.l    I.elow  each   llouvr:   lower 

.alea  much  la.-ger  than  the  upper;  cnvex,  huiry  on  the 

-Hdv,  tlnre-nerved,  and   three-pointed  by  the  pi-ojection 

ol  the  nerves;  stamens  tlnx-e  :  stigmas  dark  purple. 

Tall  HKmov  [Trinisj.is  .c^lerioUles)  k   a   i.e,-e„nial 
grow,ng  t,-om  thi'ee  to  five  feet  high,  on  drv  and  sandy 
helds,  {,-om  New  York  to   Illinois,  and  southward,  flow- 
enng  „,  August.     It  is  a  showy  grass,  with  an  upri.-ht 
very  smooth  stem,  smooth  leaves,  and  large  co„,poun(i 
spreadnig  j.anicle;    spikelets  very   nnme,-ous :  shining 
pu.ple   flowers.   |,;,i,-y  towa,-ds  the   base.      It  has  some- 
times been  cut  for  hay,  but  is  not  considered  of  nnuh 
value. 

Hand  Gha^^^  {Trioisp!,  j,Hrj>Nrea)  is  also  found  on 
<lry,  sandy  soils,  along  the  coast,  flowering  in  August 
and  September.  It  is  acid  to  the  taste,  grows  from  six 
inches  to  a  foot  high,  i,,  numerous  stems!  in  a  tuft  from 
the  same  root,  and  has  nume,-ous  bearded  joints.  Ex- 
tends sonthward  from  Massachusetts  to  Virginia,  and 
still  further  down  the  coast. 

HoRXEi)  Hand  (Irass  (Tricuspis  corHuta)  is  another 
species  found  at  the  Soutii.     Of  no  agricultural  value 
6* 


I  H 


66 


TWIN     <1U.VS8. 


25.  DrpoNTiA. 

.^pikulcts  two  to  four  flowered;  p;Inmes  uoarly  oqual- 
liii^tlui  llowers,  with  ii  cliistt'i'  orioiii;-  liairs  at  tlic  Imse 
oT  each  ll(jwer.  I'aleie  tliiii,  lower  one  eiitir<'.  |ioiiit- 
less  ;  stamens  three  ;  i)ereiiiiiiil.     Mostly  arctic  {grasses. 

Di?iH)XTi.v  (JitASs  {D>fp<)n/i(i,  cooliz/i)  is  a  tall  grass, 
with  roiighish  leaves;  a  large  compouiifi  paiiiclc!;  very 
iiiictiiial  glumes;  paleu  nwnless.  Pouinl  in  Michiuaii. 
ill  the  hoi-ilcrs  of  a  swamp  in  Washington,  Mat'omh 
county.     01  no  agricultural  value. 

26.  DrAURiiKXA. 

Spikelets  two  to  ten  Ih)werci1,  in  an  open  panicle  ; 
Lilumes  much  shorter  than  the  llowcrs,  the  lower  much 
snuillcr:  lower  palea  egg-shapeil,  convex  on  the  liack, 
three-iierved  above,  sharp-pointed  ;  stamens  two.  Grain 
large. 

Twix  Grass  {DiarrJictHt  jtmen'raiKi)  grows  from  one 
and  a  hall'  to  three  I'eet  high,  along  the  shaded  banks 
ol'  rivers  and  woods,  I'rora  Ohio  and  Illinois  southwards. 
Fh)werin';-  in  Aue'ust. 


27.  Dactylts.  Cock's-foot. 

Spikelets  several-flowered,  crowded  in  clusters,  one- 
sided :  panicle  dense  at  the  to]),  hranching :  glumes 
two;  herh.iceous.  keelcMl:  awn  pointeil :  stamens  thr(>e  : 
seedoMong,  iieiite,  Tree.    Named  I'rom  (fuchjhiN,  a  linger. 

Okchau!)  Grass.  Hough  Co(  Ivs-i-oot  (Davti/Us  glom- 
(■rata),  flowers  in  dense  clusters.  Its  stem  is  erect, 
about  three  feet  high.  I  have  found  specimens,  in  good 
soil,  over  five  feet  high.  Leaves  linear,  flat,  dark-green, 
rough  on  both  surfaces,  which,  with  the  fancied  resem- 
blance of  its  clusters  to  the  foot  of  a  harn-yard  fowl. 
have  given  it  the  common  name   in  England  of  rough 


ORCHARD     (JRASS. 


67 


fock's-l'oot.      Hoot 


•'illy.     Not  nil 


port'iiiiiiil.      Flowor 


in   .F 


uiio    Jiiit: 


'•('iiiiiioii    III  fields   ;u\(\   pastures.     It    is 


sliowa  in  Fig.  37,  and  ii  nm-iuliud  spikdet  in  Fi.^  38 


fig.  38. 


Fig.  37.    Orchard  Graaa 


111 


C8 


OIUIIAIMI     (JifASS.  — ITS     CCM'IVATIO.V. 


This  is  one  of  the  most  vulnable  and  widely-kiiowii 
of  all  the  {)astiire  ^Tasses.  It  is  eoimnou  to  every 
couiitry  in  Europe,  to  tlie  north  of  Afriea,  and  to  Asia, 
as  well  as  to  America.  Its  eultnre  was  introduced  into 
England  from  Virginia,  where  it  had  been  cultivated 
some  years  previously,  i„  17(14.  It  forms  one  of  the 
most  common  grasses  of  English  natural  pastures,  on 
rich,  deep,  moist  soils.  It  became,  sot)n  aiter  its  intro- 
duction into  England,  an  object  of  special  agricultural 
interest  among  cattle  leeders,  having  been  for.  d  to  bo 
exceedingly  palatable  to  stock  of  allkinds.  Its  rapidity 
of  growth,  the  luxuriance  of  its  aftermath,  and  its  power 
of  enduring  the  cropping  of  cattle,  commend  it  highlv 
to  the  farmer's  care,  especially  as   a  pasture  grass. 

As  it  l)lossoms  earlier  than  Timothy,  and  about  the  time 
of  red  clover,  it  makes  an  aduu"rabie  nuxture  with  that 
plant,  to  cut  in  the  blossom  and  cure  lor  liitv.  As  a 
pasture  grass  it  should  be  fed  close,  lioth  to  prevent  its 
fornu'ng  thick  tufts  and  to  jjrevent  its  running  to  seed, 
when  it  loses  a  large  proportion  of  its  nutritive  matter, 
and  becomes  hard  and  wiry.  All  kinds  of  stock  eat  it 
greedily  when  green. 

Judge  IJnel  said  of  it,  '■  1  should  i)refer  it  to  almost 
every  other  grass,  and  cows  are  \ery  fond  of  it."' 
Elsewhere  he  says:  "The  American  Vock's-foot,  or 
Orchard  Grass,  is  one  of  the  most  abiding  grasses  we 
have.  It  is  jjrobably  better  adapted  tlian  any  other 
grass  to  sow  with  clover  and  other  seeds  for  permanent 
pasture  or  for  hay,  as  it  i;--  lit  to  cut  with  clover,  and 
grows  vemarkalily  (]uick  when  cropped  by  cattle.  Five 
or  six  days'  growth  in  summer  .■ulliei^s  to  give  a  good 
bite.  Its  good  properties  consist  in  its  early  and  rajjid 
growth,  and  its  resistance  of  drouth  ;  but  all  agree  that 
it  should  be  closely  cropped.  Sheep  will  pass  over 
every  other  gi„-s  to  feed  upon  it.     If  sulfered  to  grow 


[..ng.  without  being  cropped,  it  becomes  coarse  and 
l-.sb.  Colonel  I'owell  (a  late  eminent  farnKM-  of  Pcm"^ 
^  Ivania),  after  growing  it  ten  yea.-s,  declares  th^lt 
p.oduces  more  pasturag-e  thnn  any  other  grass  he  has 
-n  n.  An.enca  On  being  fed  very  ck.:^  it  has  p  ^ 
luced  good  j,asturo  after  reinaining  five  days  at  rest 
..s.„ed  to  all  arable  soils.     Two^nshels  ^f  .cecH^ 

Z  H       ^d^'  "  "'•"   "r"'   ^'^"'^  ^^'^^"^''  -•   -''^-  tins 
quantity  when   sown    w.th    clover.     The  seed   is  very 

I'.uht     we.gnng-   not   n.ore    than    twelve    or    fourteen 

I'-y.d.^to  the  bushel.     It  should  be  cut  early  for  hay" 

Jlr.  .a.iders,  a  well-known  practical  fi.rme.-  and  cattle 

^r^s  and  Jr?  ""'"^'^^'1'"^  ^^  ''^^^^  ^^-'b^  -^  orchard 
gas  and  red  c  over:  n.deed,  I  now  sow  no  other  sort 

o    .^  ^>-seed.     These  grasses,  mixed,  make  the  best  hay 

ot  all   the  grasses  lor  this   climate  (Kentucky).     It  is 

nnt^ous,  ami  well  adapted  as  ibodilr  stock.     Or^^^^^ 

g  a..    .  ready  lor  graxn.g  in  the  spring  ten  or  twelve 

Us    sooner  than    any   other  that   affords    a  full    bite 

^  hen  grazed  down  and  the  stock  turned  oin  it  will  be" 
rcadN^  foi  re-g-razmg  m  less  than  half  the  tin.e  re„uired 
for  Jventuckv  blue  o.,.ass      Tt   ^f.uvl  ■  ..  "^-<l»iit(i 

lH>ff,M.  +1,  .     ■        X,   ^  ^t.uvU  a  severe  drought 

M^c.      an  any  other  grass,  keeping  green  and  growh.g 
ie      other   sorts   are    dried    up.     In  sumn.e.    it   wiH 
.  o      more   n.   a  day  than   blue   grass  will   in   a  week 

nsl^"T,^'"^•''■'''^'"^^^^^^^      .<.   Ibrn.  and  .rou- 

n  /^"'^^^I'—^ive  is  a  good  preparation 

;•       e  gronnd,  ami  a  sulliciency  of  see.l  nniformlv  sown. 

I.e  late  Judge  Peters,  of  Pemisylvania,  -  who'was  • 
tl.e  head  of  agricultural   in.proven.ent  in  that  st,^e  io 
many  years,  _  p,-eibrred  it  to  all  otlau-  grasses  " 
,,,  r     'll/''":;^  ''^  'r  ^  exhausting  to  the  soil  than  rve 
gas  or  Jnno  hy       It  will   endure  considerable  sluuie. 
In  a  porous  subsoil  ,ts  fibrous  roots  extend  to  a  great 


i 


S     ' 


70 


KtELERIA     KATOXIA, 


depth.  ItH  hal.it  of  grov/th  unfits  it  fur  a  lawn  -ras. 
Its  seed  woig-iis  tu-elve  pounds  to  the  hushoK  and  to 
sow  alone,  about  twenty-four  pounds  to  the  acre  are 
required  to  make  sure  of  a  good  crop.  It  should  not 
be  sown  alone  except  for  tlie  sake  of  raising  the  seed. 
It   IS   worthy  of  a   much    more    extended    cultivation 


among  us 


28.    RcELKIJIA. 


fepikelets  crowded  m  a  dense,  spike-like  panicle,  three 
to  seven  flowered.    Glumes  and  lower  palea  compresse- 
keeled;  stamens  three  ;  grain  free.  F^-^^b., 

CRESTKf)  K(ELKHiA  {Kwhna  crlstata)  is  a  perennial 
grass  from  two  to  two  and'  a  half  feet  high,  and  some- 
what common  on  dry,  gravelly  places  from  Pennsvlvania 
to  Illinois  and  westward.  Panicle  narrowly  spiked- 
lower  palea  pointed;  leaves  flat,  the  lower  ones  some- 
what hairy. 

TiiUNCATEn  KffiLERiA  (Ko'Jen'a  truncata)  has  a  dense 
and  contracted  panicle,  with  the  spikelets  crowded  on 
the  short  branches:  upper  glume  truncate,  obtuse 
rough  on  the  back.  Perennial :  growing  from  two  to 
three  feet  high,  and  flowering  in  June,  on  drv  soils 
irom  Pennsylvania  to  Wisionsin,  and  southward." 

29.  Eatonia. 

Glumes  nearly  equnl.  l)ut  dissimilar,  and  shorter  than 
the  flowers  :  the  lower  one-nerved,  keeled:  the  uni.er 
three-nerved  on  ti,.  back,  not  keeled.  Lower  palea 
oblong,  compressed,  boat-shaped  ;  stamens  three. 

Pennsylvaman  Eatoxia  (Ealonia  PeuNsi/hxtm'ca)  is  a 
common  grass  in  moist  woods  and  meadows,  in  the 
Eastern,  Middle,  and  Western  States  :  growing  about 
two    n.et    high,  perenninl,  and    lioweriug   in   .I,me   „n.l 


JiATTLE.SXAK..;    (;i;ass. 

•lo  is  loij;^'  aii.l 
tint,  and  of  a  pale-gTeen  color. 


71 

'Tulv      ;ts  puni,-le  is  lo..  and  loose  ;  leaves  short  and 


30.  Melica. 


Melic  Grass, 


31.  Gi.YCEiirA, 


Manna  Grass. 


'"  '''"'S  «■■"-  i"  g-H-'i-al  uppoamnco.    It       .^^^ 

tl.ree  feet  l.fo!    I    ,^    ^  ^^''  ^'"^'^'^'S  iVom   tv.o   to 


i'i 


t-rsf^it 


li 


il 


MEAI)0,V    SPKAR    ,.H.,ss 

smooth,  as  long:  as  tlio  stum      Tl,i,.  ,■ 

found  ocoasi„„all,- „„  n"LM^^""T""  ''"'''■ 

flowoivd;  lower  paloa  ol.fn..  .>'  ,  '  *'"''''^'  ^^  ^<^"»' 
"pper:  stan.ens  two  s^  "  '  "  '  'T'''  ^''^"^  ^''- 
ioMM-  and  rouo-h.     Fi;,    X    '•    ^^^""P^"'"'-   'eaves   very 

i'Oin  Xew  England    rS    "  "'V'"'^'^  ^^"^'  -^''^'^p' 

ersi„june.i,i;^;;^^;;;;:;-';--ti'-rd^  Flo!:. 

cultural  value.  P^'^'^^'^i'-     Of  no  special  agri- 


Meadow  Htear  Grass  X 


cena  ..rcata),  \,  the  fowl  n.ead 


EHVED   .AIaNXA    Gr 


ASS 


^vliilo  the  P-i 


"^v-  of  uvmy  fiiriue 


{Gh,. 


{P0(l    .SO'otilKl)     ol 


grass  eomnionly  called  Ibwl  n.eadow  by 


ot  bastard  fowl  nu>adow.     It 


goes  with  them  under  tl 


rs, 

rs 


othe 
'0  name 


oft 
let 
lil. 


ons.x  inches  in  length,  with  slender  I 


las  a  hroad,  open  pam'cle 


■^niall 


I-.      r        T'l*"'   ""^''""S-,  green ;  1.-, 
'^^;;i  ian  a  l.ttle  rough:  stem  a  littl 


n-anchcf 


spike- 


to  tl 
It 

whicl 


iro"  fi?et  hial 
is  a  nati\o  A 


leaves  m  tv/o  row; 
compressed,  one 


acco; 


■ring  and  when  tl 


rding  to  ^';inclail 


ue  of 


of' the  lattermatl 


otl 


ler  grasses.     Jt 


merican  grass,  the  nutritive  val 

to  sniclair,  is  equal  at  the  time  of  tlow- 

ieseedisnpe,whiletl 

'  is  said  to  he 


le  nutritive  matte 


IS 


ground,  hut  it  is  said  al 


I  hardy  gra 


reater  than  that  of 


most 


rows  hest  on  moist 


soil 


Jt 


nutritive  q 


IS  a  very  valuable  nati 


so  to  succeed  on  lightish  uv,l 


UKl 


ualities  until  tlie  seed 


ve  grass,  retainin-   it^ 


"P  large,  fim-like  shoots,  whicl 
tious.     It 
for  wet    • 


is 


ripe,  and  then  sendhig 


would  be 


a  valuable 


iiioist  pastil n>s.     ( 


'  '^'"0  succulent  and  nutr 
U'gredient  in  a  nuxture 
en  in  V'\^. 


<i!lllUO!l.      Jt  is 


S( 


74 


I'ALK     M.\.V\A     <;i{AS.S 


39  While  in  Fi^.  40  a,v  se.-n  :ts  root  stalks.    A  um^nifird 
spikelet  IS  shown  in  Fij^.  41.  an.l  the  cuh  x  m  Tiir.  42 


Fif.'.  4:',.     WiitirS|„'ai- ilniss.  l?l"  44 

The   Pale  Manxa   f  ,:  vss   {Gbjcerici  pallida)     To^;  . 
mosflv  ,n  shallow  watt    .ad  is  vmy  common.     P^,i.n. 


^VATKi;    S|.|;.\l;    (;i;ass. 


,.;)! 


75 


erect,  with 


i!tirv  braiiclio: 


fc\v,  linear,  ol.ioiii--,  fi 


'  «i"-''-"lMis-,  ro„^,i,  .  spikclets 


<")lono-,minutolyy/r(-./c>(.///t'r/;l 


K",  nve  to  iiino  tJowered  :  1 


o^vcr  pulea 


ui(l  pale-green.     Flowe 


/leaves  short,  sliari)-pointecl 


feet 


'0I1O-,  creeping  at  the  I 


I's  in  July.     Cul 


•ase 


ms  one  to  three 


ti 


Hie  niaiiiia  grass  is  of 


"o  value  for  cultivation, 


'••""  ^'-   place  of  its  g,wth    it  co   I  l  n     ,' ''"'"' 

to  advantage,  like   n.anv  otl^,      "    '   t';     ['  '""^ 
worthless,  for  turnin...  ;,:  ....  ^        '"'  '''"'"''  *^'-«  "ow 

fe^'t i,i,w,, u.i,i, . p„„i„,",:.*: : ',"  '^  f "-■  ;»"•■  o.- five. 

™r '"'  ""■^"""■^ ' -'-»  :^:.'o '  ,  i;f:."«'"v: '"' 

the  genus  P„,  to  w,„':        i."  et;«J",:' "'■  "f  -■>•  "f 
ofhoi-s.      Its  root  :^  „        ":'<'"-noil  by  r.,i„„t,,„       , 

stout,  «„,o„   I,       ,oi,,.   '*"■■"'""''    '•'■""I""-     »tO,„     CM..,.,, 

Kn^lanrl   „„rl  F,.„„,.e  Z.  ^r  .'l   *'""''  «*«>*   '" 

-"I.  .fout  J,   r"    o,      ^'"r,  •'•"■■'''  or™„..ol„,.. 
Sro,nl,,  it  is  sui.l   toZn.    '""r   """"'"«  '■'"  '"" 

iiwKnilie,l  i„  Kg,  44  "'     I'"  spikelet  is  seen 

on,,isg.o,si,,'t,,;™!;r:^:---';^^;.-. 


i'l 


I  if 


76 


l'l.«».\TIN(;     mi;  A  DO 


\V     l.'J{AS." 


li"!  ■ 


It 


pum.lc  an,i  Ion-,  linoar  spikdots.    It  jjtows  IW„„  fiiteen 

«-c-t,^„u„cl,  »,„oatl,  .,.,„,  lo„v..s    l.,g.,  ,,.tV.M,„°g; 

rouf-'liish  on  hotli  sides,  lower 
oiiesfldt,  ii|)|H.roiu"s -enemlly 
folded;  spik, -lets  f;.\v,|„„g and 
linear,  as   shown  in  Fig-.  45 
which    represents    the    plant 
n^ear   the  time   of   flowering. 
Fig.    4G    shows    a   magnified 
spikolet  of  this  grass.     Flow- 
er.s  late  in  June. 

It  grows  naturally  in  very 
";<»ist  and  muddy  places,  in 
ditches,  on  the  margins  of 
ponds  and  slieams,and  is  very 

eoiiimon, especially  northward 
and  westward.     It  is  cai)al)le 
of    cultivation    as   a    perma- 
nent moist  pasture  grass,  and 
its  yield    compares  well  with 
niany  of  the  other  grass- 
t's.    Its  seeds  are  greed- 
ily sought  by  birds,  and 
in   some  parts   of  Ger- 
many are  said  to  l)e  used 
as   a  delicacy   in   soups 
and  gruels.  It  has  some- 
times been  cultivated  in 
France  and  other  i)art8 
of  Furope,  along  alluvial 
bordei-s  of  streams  and 
tk-cs,   and   is   found   to 
produce   a    sweet    and 
mitritious    grass.      'J'he 


^•47.     Goose  Gni 


•■'i^'.  4S. 


y  well  knuxvn 
timt  liu-g-o  tracts  of  salt 


7* 


1%1 


r4k 


I  fill 


'""Will     AM)     VALTK     ()  F 


'JUOSK    (ilJASf 


iiiiusli  arc  iit',ii|\ 


iinc'ii.    Soiiiotiiiios  c'Joso  cutt 


carlv  iiiiiiiiiii^'.  \\  liilc  the  do 

•■nts,M,i,ip:ii,,livrlvoiisy.  kills  It  out,  audi 

the  iiiarsli  liccuin,. 

of 


iiiti'  ill  tho 


w  IS  on  the  L'-nissMid  wlifiiit 


I'Olu  timt  rail 


^valL'^,  eitlitM-  upon  the  .siiri 


'itn-i'ii.    Moiv  oik'ii,  liowever.ex 


S(> 


cess 


l)roxiuiity  of  ponds  which  I 


tec  or  111  the  soiU'roiu  tl 


le 


lie 


"'*.     On  all  such  tract 


liive  no  outlet,  causes  harr 


en- 


lic  \\li(i!(  ;  iici; 


s  ^^-oose  grass  springs  up  and  dot. 


ill  sha 


ICC  with  circular  patches  of"! 


arc  Vers-  li 


green,  w 


hieh 


kc  rii 


gnorins  on  the  iiuiuaii  skin. 


This  v;dualile  grass   is  seld.-m  found  ah 


these   barren  t 


ract^ 


111(1 


)ne  exce 


iiid  th 


upon   thciu  it  p'row 


•t  on 


t 


iin  as  seldom  to  he  worth  cuttiim-.    O 


•s  so  short 


ore  iif\cr  see  any  goijse 


other  kinds,  and 


lie  will  there- 
grass   Iriy  cvcept  mixed  with 


When  these  tracts  1 


•eiierally  with  blacl 


i'ras- 


i'rom  any  other 


'egiii  to  iinproye,  from  d 


ancc,  and  the  goose 


cause,  other  gni.sse 


riiiiiini>-  or 


s  make  their  a 


grass  grows  much  m 


ippear- 


and  becomes  yalnable.     This  will 


ore  vigorous. 


continue   to  be   the 
eyeral   years,   until   the    roots   of  the   other 


case    for 


grasses  have  taken  enti 


th 


r(^ 


possession  of  the  soil,  wl 


le  goose  grass  (b'sapj.ears  almost  enti-    1^ 


len 


time,  ready  to  aiij)ear 
its  intrusive  competitor 


mid  Jjides  it.- 


The  hay  made  from  the  HMxt 


am  \\iieiicyer   irom 
cease  to  exist. 


any  cause 


grasses  —  among  which  black 


nre  of  goose,  and  <.;| 


ler 


nates  —  is  a  most  valuable  fodder.      Tl 


grass  generally  predomi- 


<o  ^veighty  that  it  takes  but  a  small  ,,..„. 
tively,  for  a  ton,  and  cattle  eat  it  -      h  a  I 
avidity  as  oats,  or  any  other  graii; 
more  valuable  than  blacl 


le  goose  gra,-s  is 
piaiMity,  compiira- 


iiiost  as  much 
^11      ''t,  no  hay  is 


of; 
of  1 1 
Th 


k  grass  wit.,  a  lar; 


■oose  grass,  when  properly  cured.    1'his  is  tl 
'le  experience  of  practical  farmers  aloiio-  tl 


c  admixture 


e  curin 


le  resu 
10  coast. 


It 


g  process  reipiires  care  and  time;  for  yoose 
grass  IS  as  full  of  juice  as  possible,  and 


Ion 


ger  exposure   than   black 


requires  a  much 
grass,  while  a  V(;iy  little 


t 
i 
c 

C( 
C( 

S' 

of 

'in 

ce 


'''''^■''^"^^■''    0.     S.V,,,    M.,s„Ks. 


\\'<^t,  wlioii   if 
I 'luck  gm.ss. 


79 


P"ffi'illy  fiii(>f|,  11,,.,, 


t'li 


'"y  iiiJMi'UM  the 


W 


((  111; 


tlie  tlwt  that  i 


^;'.M^oor(|,epro,H.,tH.s„r 


Vtlo-o 


•utti 


"  ■several  instfi 


;i>(j>t.  o.|. 


ISS 


10   lia\e  (lie.l  of  li 


"•'t's  wiiliin  I 


fr 


UIIJ 


"y  ••\\ii  kiioul- 


It 


■^l"'iig-,  as  is  not  uDl 


""^  •;  ''•<""   *'at„i^  it  earl 


•i-'SfinljJes  in  the  si 


n'(|||eiit]v   til 


'»  its  eiuster-likc 
used  foil 


I'lpo     .  Its  lea\ 


y  111 

'■"••^•'  with  clever. 
t^'S  and  somewhat 


ihmIv  to   1 


P'-^v.h.  that   species   of. .Hie    .,, 


'"-•'■-■.  (»!■  more  1 1  rope  live/. 


'■"^\"    111   kitcl 


ilcli 


'II  res. 


"■"    Pinh'iis,  ejillcd 


t-e  almost  pre  iselv  hke  fl 


S<H'( 


•*talk 


and 


•ninioii 
It 


!aiitaii 


•^pikelets  and  sreds  of 


seed 


tlu 


sold 


Sr-^y^  l.nfh  o,i   hio.h  and  I 


_om  worth   cnttinu.  ,,„   ,| 
itself  and  without  the  ad 


ow  niai  <hes,  hut 
"^'"    tracts  where  it 


is 


II 

into  oui 

3Iost 


proper  to  statt 


ill  tl 


•iiixtiire  (if  oti 


IS  verv 

I'OWs 


have 


;  111   tins  coninetion,  tl 


K-'T  ,aTasses. 


'-onniade  to  introduce  this  vahmhl 


imf)r()\ed  hv  (ht 


"•'t  meadow 
'"pcriiu-  sa 


'■0()( 


tiv 


CIMI 


><.  and  with 
It-ma rsli  ora.sse 


b'  wort  hi 


^,  wliilc   thtj   I 


os;s  pfiiits   found  tl 


HKu-er  a 


.  that  exjieri- 
'o  g-i-ass 
I  success, 
arc  li-reatlv 


lid 


after  this  operation,  and 
pecies.     It  may  l)e  safel 


icie  verv 


<'<>iiipara- 


:ive 


place    to   moi 


>oon  die  out 


tl 


th 
if 


y  ass.rted  that. 


<'   vahuihlt 


on  an  aver 


le  value  of  the  ni'irJ,  i      , -"  "'i  avera.i;e, 


outl 


Pioperly  used,  t 


peaty  matter  taken   from  it 


i^  sufiicient. 


a\- 


pay  a  considerahle   ,)o,-tion  ol'  tl 


le 


Clustk 
ceria  lUstan 


i^KO  SPRARorI?KPrKXKn:\rEAr.owG 
=o   in   salt   niarsln  .   al 


"^  tbund  al 


It  ASS 


:?!±     Ita,,pe„.  to  he  chiselv  all 


!lO 


'"^tom 
oft! 


ing-. 
ced 


intr 


ascend 
)aniclc 
3aves 
'peeies 


iig,  destitute  ot 


iod  to   g-oo.se 


Gl>,. 
loiio-  the 


gra 


ot  runnino  shoots  :  hrancl 
^■e  11)  a  half  whorl,  and 


ss. 


tlirce  to  h' 

fl'it.     Jt  is   of  lessval 


les 


sproad- 
«e   than   tJie  pre- 


¥U 


f 


80 


THK    SI'KAl!     <;i£ASSi;,S. 


82.    HUI/.OI'VIM  M. 


Sjii'kr.  Gt'dns. 


Larji'L'  llowoi's  and  spikek'ts,  coiniiri'ssiMl  mihI  ciiiwdcd 
ill  11  dense  spiked  |)iiiiii'l('.  lii-aves  crowded  on  the 
stems,  folded,  and  mostly  i'i;;id. 

SriKi';  (JuAss  {liri}.upiiri(iii  sjn'cufinii)  is  a  salt-niarsli 
g'rass,  with  eiilms  or  stems  in  tnl'ts  IVoni  ereepiii;^'  root- 
stalks,  IVom  ton  to  eij^hteeii  inches  high.  Flowers  in 
Au<;ust. 

'■>'■>.    I'oA.  Sjx-df  Grnsscs. 

Spikolcts  ovate,  e(jm[)ressed,  llowers  two  to  ten  in 
an  open  panicle :  glumes  shorter  than  the  llowers  ; 
lower  palea  compressed,  keeled,  pointless,  live-nerved; 
stamens  two  or  three,  seed  oMong,  t're(> :  stems  tutted; 
leaves  smooth,  Hat,  and  soft. 

A.VM'AL  Si'KAi!  (Ji.'Ass  { P()(i  iiimua),  Fig.  1,  is,  per- 
haps, the  most  common  ol'  all  onr  grasses.  Its  stems 
are  spreading,  flattenetl,  panicle  often  one-sided,  spike- 
lets  crow<leil,  three  to  seven  llowered;  lower  paloa  more 
or  less  hairv  on  the  nerves  b(dow  ;  leaves  of  a  liii'ht 
green,  sword-shaped.  Hat,  often  vriiinplcd  at  tltc  mnrijlnH, 
as  a|»pcai's  in  the  figure,  smooth  on  both  surfaces,  rough 
at  the  e(|ges.  Fiords  not  irc/thnf,  and  this  distinguishes 
it  from  the  June  grass  {Pixi prate i(.sis)  and  its  varieties. 
The  outei'  or  lower  palea  of  this  grass  has  no  hairs  on 
the  lateral  rihs.  as  the^>o^/  jirdtvii.siii  has.  This  modest 
and  heantifiil  grass  flowers  throughout  the  whole  sum- 
mer, and  foiiiis  a  very  large  part  of  the  sward  of  New 
England  pastures,  pi'odueing  an  early  and  sweet  feed, 
exceedingly  relished  hy  cattle.  It  does  not  resist  the 
drought  very  well,  but  becomes  [)arched  up. 

The  Wavv  Mkadow  CtRass  {Pfxi  hixa)  occurs  rarely, 
on  high  and  rocky  hills  in  \ew  England,  N  'v  York, 
and  northern  latitudes.     Of  no  agricultural  value. 


I'')\V[,     mi;  A  Dow     (;i!A« 


81 


SllOIiT-LKAVKI)   Sl'KAI!  ( 


JitAss  (P,Hi  hnr!/„i;,,)  is  H,,,,,,] 


"i  n.rky  MU.I  liilly  u'.HMllaM.ls  of  the   Mi.MIe  ,,,1.1  Soi.tl 


crii 


itat 


ii^"   iipl'fi'   li'iivoH   very   sliort,  tl 


leaves  l(.ri^',  nrarly  e(|ii!illiiiM-  the  st 


le   r(H»t- 


eiii. 


S()iTiii;i;.\    Si'KAif  (U\\ 


the  (liy  wouds  of  \' 

em  States.      I'aiiirh'  verv  ( 


ss   ( l>o<i   llcxn 


"XII)   is  i'oiiiul    ill 


ii'^iiiia,  Kentiicl<\-,  and  uti 


ler  >uiitl 


lower  |)alea  |iroiiiiiicii 
Hgrieultural  vuhie. 


I  ill  I 


ise,  leaves  ta 


pt'l-    |)01lit( 


tly  iierveil  ;  i-teni  slender.     Of 


no 


Vooo  .sp„:,„  (;h,s.s  ,y>o.  nl.ulrs)  is  ionnd  in  woods 
and  lidl-8ides  ln„u  New  Kn^lan.l  to  W.seonsin.  Leaves 
mn-ow,  a.-ute,  the  ni.per  often  sheutliin-  the  hase  of 
the  pan.eie,  the  hairy  l.ranrh.s  of  whirl,  are  geuerally 
in  threes  and  fours.  *^ 

Weak  Mkahow  O.^ass  (Poa  r/.A///.),  another  speeies 
U)  rocky  woodlands.  Iron,  N,.;v  Knoland  to  Wisronsin 
Flowers  n,  May.     Pani<de  small,  its  braneh..s  slen.ier  in 
pairs  and  tlireoH,     Stem  weak.  ' 

Sylvan  Spkar  (Jhass  ^Poa  .yhr.stris)  has  an  erect 
flat  stem,  a  short  pyramidal   paniele,  with  branches,  in 
.yes  ,M- .nor...     Fo„„d  in  rorky  woo.js  and  meadows  in 
Oliio,  Uiseofisin,  and  the  South. 

Fowi^Mkapow,  Falsi.:  REnTOP(Por,,s<>ro//wO.-Fip-  49 

Spdcelets  two  to  four,  sometimes  five  flowered;  h-p-ules 

oval    spear-shape.l  ;    flowers   o,.een,  often   tinged   with 

pnrple;    roots   slightly   creeping:    wet   meadows   and 

Inmks  of  streams,  very  conm.on.     Flowers  in  Julv  and 

August.      In   long-contin.(ed  luoist   weather  the  lower 

.lonits  send  up  flowering  stems.      The  panicle  is  erect 

and  spreadn.g  when  ir.  flower,  but  more  contracted  ami 

drooping  wli,M,  ripe.     Indigenous  to  many  parts  of  this 

country,  and  also  a  native  of   Europe.      Its  snikeh't  is 

seen   magnifie<l   in   Fig.  50;  its  flower,  in   Fia-   r,l  •  its 

germ,  III  Fig.  o:>,  and  its  seed  in  Fi-'.  ')'A. 


•  i%. 


II 


82 


FOWL     MEADOW. 


t%'-  Ti  >..    Fiir.  r,:i 


V\l'.  40.      [■:.»■]   Ai,.iu1"u- 


<ii;o\vT(i   OF   rouL 


ME.vnow 


It  early 


83 


(l<ii..ui,    i„    IV„„svlvai,i.,    Iv    'i    •"'■'"■  "«J'»  grass 
""fkKM-  ,„„1  ,„„„,  !        "•  «""«'"""■■«  culled 

I'i.^cat„<,„.,  I,'  One     ;:r,  '         '""'  '■"  "  ■^"■""'1'  'n 

'■-I. I  therofo : ;  1,  i  ;!,:;,""'  "";?■  "■""  ™'-- 

'■.vti,ea,„„u,i  ii,,o,  ";;;,'  , """'""-"  if»rtib,,i 

Of  tho«o  .„■„  s.Ht»',,:        ''"'■'-' ^"'T''''P-«"c  8m»». 
'n..chthek.,st:  i,  X        I     .fl'T^    '"'''''' ^''"^-^  ■'« 

w.ii  i,c ,„,„o  fi,  ii„.  ,„.,.,,;„„.  i„ *;',;;"' '™"<'"i"=ii(iy 

<"»■   lioisus:  i,e»i,l„.    it  ,'    ,  '    •"  "'"''"T  "itli 

•''''''■•■"''-■'■"rtoKnKfci w^^;',*^T   ■'"I'T''  '""  '"  "'■""■ 

l'""l-     Tin's  g,,,s8  Ins  ■„„    I  ''«  """'"'l  "i  low,  „K.I»t 

l"0|«r  season.     Si.ear  tn-,s.  ,.  '  ""  '"  "'» 

grass,  if  it  s,an,,s  too  L^^  w  "rrtlf',"'""'  '-"«"''' 
*-;•:  if  this  ontstand  *',  if "''  '?";■';"'""  '■"' 
till  fliore  comes  „„  •,  «„„„  j       '  •""  '"  I'"'  if  sland 

time  from  July  to  October  It  T\^'  'T"''^  '^"'^' 
f '  '"y.  viewing  some  of  h  attentivelv  "fl  T^l't''"^' 
<ouMrl  the  reason  of  it.     When  it        '  ?      '   '''"''" 

^oet  hiuh.  it  then  fnll,   in.        .        ,     ^'''"'"  ''^^^"^  ^'"''^^e 
•       tm  n  tolls  uown,  but  doth  not  rot  hke  other 


:ii 


84 


WOOD    MEADOW     GKASS 


<=rass  u'hen  lodged;  i„  a  little  time  alter  it  is  thus  fhllen 
<lown,nt  every  joint  if  puts  forth  a  new  branch.  Xow  to 
-.na.nth.svoun,,,roodors 

^md  lit  lor  moNvin^'  all  this  Jong  period  "  ^     fe'^^" 

It  .rows  ahundantly  in   ahnost   every   part    of  X.u- 
England,  espenally  where  it  has  been  introduced   and 
cultivated    n.   suitalie    o,ound,  sueh  as  the  borders 
rivers  and   intervals  oceasioiuilly  overllowed.      It  will 
not  endure  to  be  long-  covered  with  w.vter,  esi,ecialh-  in 
warm  weather.      It  is  well  to   let  a  piece  J  to  s  e 
^^ve  the  seed,  and  seatter  it  over  low  hunk     It  m  I  es 
an  excellent  grass  for  oxen,  cow.s,  and  sheep    b  t    s 
thought  to   be   rather  fine  lor  horsjs.     Jt  ,k.Iu-  g^ 
.^o  coarse  or  hard  but  that  the  stalk  is  sweet  and  t^^.der 
and  eaten  without  waste.      It  is  easily  made  u.,o  hav' 
and  IS   a   mnritive   and   valuable  grass.     Owin-  to  iu 
constantly  sending  forth  flowering  stems,  the  grass  of 
the  lattermath  contains  more  nutritive  matter  than  the 
firs    c,.op  at  the  time  of  flowering:    hence  the  names 

■^.       '  r;  •^•""^'r''  ^^''•^'■'^'  ""^'  '^^^  lowering  meadow 
M..  -^.     It  thrives  best  when  mixed  with  other  grasses 
and  <leserves  a  place   in   all   mixtures   lor   ricl^  moist 

Woon   Me.joow  GR.VSS  (Poa   vnnoraUs)  grows  from 
e.phteen    niches    to    two    feet    high;  has   a    perennial 
croepmg  root,  an  erect  stem,  slender  and  smooth  •  the' 
upper  sheath  no   longer  than  its  leaf,  with  a  verv  short 
h^h,  the   base  of  the  lloret   having  a  silky  web  sus- 
pending the  calyx  :  leaves   light-green.      Fi.    ->4      It  is 
common    -.  moist,  shady  places,  and  appeait  as"  a  tall 
rank   gras.s    w,th    a     long,    finely-arehed    panicle.       It' 
flowers  ,n  June,  and  ripens  its  seed  in  .July      A  inao-nf- 
hed  flower  is  s(>en  in  Fig.  r)5.  ^ 


.1 

SI 


lUm 


""'■'^"     ■^•■Af.KKI.     MKAUn 


w   <;i;.\.s,s. 


85 


I  Aiwul.iw  Onus. 


Thoii-h    it    lias    n.ivor 
to    my    knowlclu-e,    1,^.,.,,' 
culf.vafcrl  in  thiscountrv, 
It  Jii)i)("ar.s   to   /no  wurtliy 
ofattciitionf;,,.  moist  soils. 
■It  is  certain'yto  bo  classed 
fimong    tho    g'ood-shad.Ml 
pasture    -rassos,    funiisl,. 
ing  a   Ihw,  succulent,  and 
very    in.fritivo     Iiorbaft-e, 

^vliiclKMttlo  are  very  fond 
of. 

T[i|.;        Korcif-STALKKf) 

Meadow  (hi.Kss  (Poa  iri- 
'■•>"f>'s),    tlio„o.h     not     so 
'•omnion     as     the     J„„o 
,U-l;iss    {P,uf  i>m(etm8),    is 
^fill   oft. Ml    met  with,  and 
'■■^   'i'Hiid   to  have  wehhed 
iJoi-ets;   outer  paloa   five- 
nl)l.cfl,  margWual  ribs  not 
''^i"-y,    lig-iile     Jong     and 
pointed,    ste.ps    two     to 
tlireo  i'v,^i  hio-h.  i)|,^. 

tiiiguished  from  June 
grassbyhjiviiigrou<;li 
slieaths,  while  in  th,. 
'•'^f<'i'     the      sheaths 

'•'•^'•-iiU)oth,theJiguIe 
•'|>tuso,  and  the  niar- 
M'lial  ribs  of  outer 
l'"l<'''  furnished  Mn'th 
■'■^''•^-    It  differs  from 


^.Iso  in  several  other  respects.  ■  Thr^uT 
s"  '™  ""'"  "  '''"■'""'  i""t,  flwtof  the 


^ 


i 


'ill 


86 


]?(»r(;  H-STAl.KKI)     Mi;  A  DOW     (MJASS 


.  .  'H 


June  grass  is  creopino-.    It  flourislios  in  moist  meadows, 
where  it  flowers  in  Jul  v.     Introduced. 


FiR.  Of).     Uon^li-^l.riKMl  Mm'Iow  Qi-ass.  Via   57. 


If 


^..,_, 


)\VS, 


I  i 


KKXTUCKV     ULLK    (;i;.v,SS.  g? 

Tins  ^niss  is  seen  ii.  Ffg.  5(1,  u-l,il,.  Fig.  57  n.,>,vsont^ 
H  flower  so.uowl.at  iimguilied.  "  I'x^.onts 

It  is  a  valuable  grass  to  cultivate  iu  moist,  sheltored 
-..!>,  l.ossess,ng  ve,y  eonsideraMe  nutritive  mnHt  c^^ 
-.ningo  perfection  at  a  desirable  time.. ndW 

jSf  ::&;:;  ;;:;;;;::t..S:r;t 

gi'ibs   IS  said   to  lose   about    seventv   ner  Ponf      <•   ' 

Grass   Iv,«Ti,cKv  B,.,,.  0„.,ss,  Ac,  (7%,  ,„.„,.„,  ' 
L  wer  florek  conue.ted  at  tl,e  I„.so  l,v  •,  «,.|  ~ 

^  3-/«"-'*^  '■ "',«■  <i.o  ™iv.x  ,    , '  ■'::• 

nl;  ed    ,„u,.8  „„1  ,.il,s  l,ai,,-;  ..ppo,- ,.l,„a.l,  1  Z^     1 ,  ,' 
>  eaf;  l,c,gl„,  ,ro,u  ,..„   ,„  flftoon  i„d,o. :  n,.,r,,. 

".c^.u,  fla  ,  acute,  ,-„„j;l,i,i,  „„  tl.o  clgos  a,„l   i,„„.,.  .  ' 
»  « j  r«..M,.lo  ,lim,»„,  s|„v„,li,„,  ere..,'     Tl„.  ,       ,  ;;    J 

" '"'  ''""■'"■^''  r'"Tl«-    liin™l,„.,.l,  a,.,l  ,„.;,l,al,|v  ^    "' 
™""^J"  ^ «  !-"»  of  ti.o  .■o„n„.,v.     FKnve,.  in  !    ! :" 

utr  '■"'"■""'■'"' "'  «'■""' ""''  ^' '"• «" "  """•'■>■  ">=..'; 

Tliia  i,  a„  oarly  gi-„,s,  very  <•„„„„„„  i„  tlie  .oil,  of 
-Now  Kn,lan,I  a,„I  tia;  Wo.,,  iu  ,..,„,..  and  .  old      „  . 
^'■tnnng  a  c„nH,ie,-„i,Io  portion  „!'  ,|,o  turf      It  v,  i 
veOM™cl,  ,n  »i^ 

"n  "I... I,   ,1  g,ow,.     I„    Kontaoky   it   i«   nnivo,-.allv 


'.T^ 


88 


COMAIOX     SPKA,;     ,;,.,vss. 


Fit'.   M. 


ISLLl 


8* 


"""^\^'n.   OF  juxK   ,;uAss  89 

Eastern  States,  Hs  .hu\o(ivi<-      Ff   i 

recent  •nwl    ,-->i;  i-      •  '"'''''^''^^^  "t"''*"-.!!!,- to  the 

n.  cut  .ml    lelmhie    mvesti-iitions    of   IVof    W-.v    j 

sevonu  other  species.     Alter  hoin-  en  .,„? '     ? 

'••>n.l.-stallced  nunulo;;';.::    ;,,,       ::.  ''I^^'''--   '^^ 
^vl'other  it  ,!eserves  to  be  r,  c  '        ^I'^^'^tioi.c.] 

pasture  .-rasses  ''  '^"^""'  ""'^"^^^'  ^''^'  '^"P^nor 

It  produces  l)ut<.ncilou-eri„o.  .tcm    in-,  v  i  •, 

stalks  an.l    r„      t.Cd  ^l'"     '*;''V'' ^''""  '■''  ''<'^^'-^ 

account  it  .sr::;;.:;!^^:;^-^^ 

ibrnn-ty   is   desired.     Tl.o   vol         ^'^'^^^j^^^^ronuu 

;-p:u..,.iH.  other  .Li  :;;:'i;:t 

lt^nnvswollinratheradr;so  r  '"^     "     "'• 

-"•'^y   of    soils,    i,.o,„    „„    dr       t   t..  I      t     "  °"  ' 

.i;:.n.  ;;:,;,r;'iL:.:"'"""""'  ^"""■""•■"  "-'■""" "-';,,, 


00 


I'l.'ACTlCAL     OI'l.N  IO\s, 


become  well  set.  an.l  it  does  not  arrive  at  its  perfeetion 
as  a  pastur,.  ^-rass  till  the  swan!  is  ,.Mer  thai,  that  :  and 
"•'"•<'  >t  -OH.tsuit.d  to  alternate  husi.andrv,  or  wlu-re 
fl'"  '=""i  's  to  rrniaiu  in  ,^Tass  only  two  or  three  years, 
fiiiU  then  he  ploughed  up.  " 

In  Kentucky,  the  best  Line  g-rass  is  found  in  partiallv 
sl.aded   pastures.      A    w.lMcnown   li.nner  of  that  state 
'"   a   eounuunieation    to   the-    O/n'o  Fanun;   savs  •  Mn' 
our  .•!, mate  and  soil,  it    is   not  only  the  u.ost  heautiful 
ot   .grasses,  Init   the   nn.st  valuable  of  crops.      It   is  t'i.e 
first  .lee,du,.us  i.lant  which   puts   forth   its  leaves  here  • 
npt'iis    Its   seed    about    the    tenth    of  June,  and    then' 
reman.s  green,  if  the   sunuuer  is  favorable  in  moisture 
dunn.-   the  sunnner  n.onths,  growinn.  slowlv  till  about 
the  last   of   August,  when    it  takes   a  s.-cond  vigorous 
|Xro^vth,  until   the-  ground  is    frozen   bv   winter's  eold 
11  the   sunnner  is  dry,  it  dries  up  utterly,  and  will  hurn" 
It  .ot  on   lire:  but  even   then,  if  the  sprinu^  growth  has 
'"■'■"_  l<"tt    upon   .he    g,o.,nd.  is    very  nutritious    to   all 
grazmg  stock,  an.l  espc..ially  to  sheep  and  cuttle,  and 
all  ruminatn.g  animals.     Whc-n  lefUo   have  all   its  fiiH 
^•■owth,  It   makes  iine  winter  pasture   for  all  kinds  of 
^:n..n,g  annnals.     CattK.  will  not  seek   it  through  the 
snow,   l,nt    sheep,  uu.les,  and   horses,  will   paw  off  the 
s.iew  an.l   get  ].lenty  without  any  other   foo.l.      When 
covere.l  with   snow,  cattle   re,p,iiv  s.,n,e  other  ll-edino- 
otherwise  they  do  well  all  winter  upon  it.  ' 

'-'It  makes  also  the  best  of  hay.  1  have  used  it  for 
that  tor  twenty  years.  It  shoul.l  bo  cut  just  as  the 
seeds  bern,  to  rip.M,.  be  well  sprea.l,  and  ,.rotecte.l 
from  the  .lew  at  night  l)y  win.lr.iwing  or  cockin- •  the 
.soj.on.l  evenn.g  staeke.l.  with  salt,  or  sheltered  with 
•salt  also.  W  hen  properly  c.nv.l,  stock  seem  ureatlv  to 
prefer  ,t  to  all  other  hay.  I  w.nd.l  not  recommend  it 
tor  meadow,  especially,  howevc.  because  the  viel.l  is 


WINTER    PASTURKS. 


91 


lianlly  equal  to   Timotl.y  m.uI  clov.r,  and  because  it  is 
niDio  flifli'-ult  to  cut  and  mre." 

'Hio    sa.ne    writer    say.:   -^  Any    ti.ne    in   the   winter, 
.cu   the  snow  ,s   on    the  .round,  sow  hroadeust  Iron. 
i<...e  to   four  quarts  of  eh^an  seed  to   the  a<-re.     With 
the  sprui^.  the  seeds  .^ernunate,  and  are  verv  tine  in  the' 
sprouts,  and  deheate.     No  stock  should   he'alhnve.l   tor 
he  fu-st  year  nor  tu.til   the  grass  see.ls  in  dune,  lor  th. 
in>t  tnue  ,n     he  secoud  year.     The  best  plan  is  to   turn 
on  yo..r  stock  when  the  seed  ripens  in  dune.     (;,,..,> 
oi   the  grass,  then   alhnv  the   fldlg^^^^^^ 
vv  mtu ,  takn.g  eare    never  to  fbed  the  grass  closely  at 

Another  vuummt  cattle  breeder,  speaking  of  thi. 
grass,  says,  MVhoever  has  lin,estone  land  has  blue 
K.a_ss;  ^vhoever  has  blue  grass  has  the  basis  of  all 
agncultural  prosperity  ;  and  that  man,  if  he  have  not 
H'  f|nest  horses  cattle,  and  sheep,  has  no  one  to  blan.e 
u  hnuself.  Others,  n,  other  circun.stances,  n.av  do 
\\  Ul.     He  can  hardly  avoid  doing  well,  if  ho  will  trv  " 

By  reference  to  a  table  on  a  subsequent  pagccouniin- 

mg  the   results  of    the  rece.it  investigations    of  J>rof 

U  ay,  the  cTistUiguishe.!  chemist  of  the  Koyal  Agricultural 

^oe,e,y  of   England,  will   be   seen  the  relative  value  of 

t  MS  grass  when   gree.,,  as  com,,ared  with  Tiuiothv,  tor 

UKstan,,,  as  shown   in    the  nutritive  and  flesh-foruung 

and   especially  .n  the  fatdbrming  prineii>les,  which  con 

duueso  largely  to  the  development  and  support  ot 

l.e  whole  annual  systeu,.     The  reader  is  referred  to  ti..t 

tal.Io,and   to  another  follouM.g  it,  cont=   uiug  analyses 

ot  these  plants  when  dried  and  freed  fron.  wa'er.and  to 

the  explanatory  remarks  on  the  nutritive  princiol,.  of 

plants,  which  precede  those  tables. 

Bluk    Grass,    or   Wirk    (iuvs.    (Poa    co,uj>ns,rn. - 
Stems  asccKlmg,    llattcned.   the   npi  .    :nost    joint   near 


Ul 


I- 


:ii' 


IJ/.II-: 


<;i.'Ass. 


fl"'   iiuMdlo;  J 


iinl 


fuiitructod 


(^aves  sliorf,   I, In, 'si 


i-;;'r('cii 


I'fiiiclius    ol'feii    ill    ] 


,     t'XJIlUKllllo.     „„„.,.      ,^^      ^j 


paiuclo  (leu 


(iwerijii 


'•;^-^'i'"l,   ilat    s,,ik,,K.t 


'•'"■S    iv.veiv.l    with    r,,„,-   ( 


';"0-'H-l,m-,.nt(,ek,M.|:   li^ulo  s| 


">\<'rs   rathor  ol.t 


Use 


.so 
;  slioi't 
()  iiiiic 
liiieai-, 


'"'"lit    Jl    lout.       It    is 

^oils  and   haiilcs.  so  hard 
soils  covei-iiiu'  th 


y  lis   to    i;r 


'•"•f  ••'iid  himit;  hri-ht 


oil   dr\- 


»  -^fiiidy,  (hill 


"!•  .WiVLdlv  knoll 


^•flio  .^'irliice  of  rocks,  al 


"^^'  <"'  tlic  thin,  hard 


oii^' trod.!,.,,  \valk.< 


iWuo  "ra.- 


ifs  loliai 


hcjots  its  Icav 


;<-'  i>i  iKjt  Ian 


)tl 


•'■-^  v;u-\y,  liiif  tl 


;i'assu 


■IIK'O     It 


most  vahiahlc  j 
^•i-'iit.  of  nntrit 
■'■•'^'"^  Mnimals  oat  it  i^roodil, 


^i  .  oriieruiso  ir  Would  I 


^^  amount  of 


'^'<)iio  of  our 


•  OS 


i\'(-'    mat  tor. 


V\ 


•-^essos  a  lar; 


OWcr: 


III 


'lll\- 


(luce 


a  \('r\'  n 


CDW: 


I'll  Hill 


'-'•"I"'''m1Iv    rolishod 
'■'•'="'"  thoir  color  r-tf 
ill  drying'  than  v~ 


ibodino-  on  it 
'""    'mo-llav.u'od   I.uttor,  and 
■  ;'''^^^'l'-     its    lilnish-, 
'J'e  sood  is  ri],e.     It 


makes  a  li 


'■•;  (>nior 


;'ra.- 


por 

Most 

pro- 
it  is 
;'i'«'('ii   stems 
■■'^lii'iiiks  less 


ay  verv  m 


and 


>■-  --ni  o.xeoodiiiuly  valuabl 


y  "1   proportion   to  its  I 


''('iisei|uentlv 


*iil 


KllOilS. 


and  should  for 


t'   pasture  o.|..„ 


t 


soil 


Tl 


bl 


lis 


liould 


m  a  j)orti(ni  o{' 


^'"  'li'y,  r(,ekv 


not 


!i  mixture  for 


uo  grass,  alliid,Ml  t 


('  ahovo. 


'"^'  <'«>ufnui,d(.,i  with  Kent 


>llcli 


lie 


ky 


u.  \, 


''^pikelets  two  t 


i;.\(;k()stis 


iK-'i-vod.  not    I 


o  seventx-  How 


nMiiaiiiiiio.  ,)„   ^1 


lairy  at    the    I 


<.-\\'i\ 


"'■^t-',   lilvo  Poa,    {\ 


wor  pale  tliree- 


W 


^^''y^'V:^  have  lid 


'<^   entire    raehis    alter    tl 


II'    upper 


Ion  o/J 


is  often  found  on  th 


^teins  often  I 


'e    I't'st   of  th( 


>i'aiiehiiii 


'HASS  {E, 


(';/rosfif 


En<;'land  to  the  We- 

fift 

It 


avelly  hanks  of 


'•<'j'tf(u.s),FU':.(ii)^ 


een   iiielie,- 


tern  States.     It 


nvers,  li 


0111  \ 


o\v 


ii«ii,  1 


Ki'ows  fr 


s  annual,  and  11 


om  SIX  to 


IS  a  delicate  and  beautiful 


awl-shaped  le 


IV 


uwers   in  A 
^'I's'^'s,  Avith   short 


es,  ^-mooth.Iono-spikelets  I 


"g'llst. 
nearly 


oose  sheaths. 


^M'd.v  IiMiry  on  tl,,.  ,nar-ii,  •   imnVl,..  (V   . 

"h-Ih-s    |o„„.      If,    ,,..„•     -'"•   I''"".  1.'.  Ii,„„ono  to  tAvo 

Het'ii  111  FiP-.  <;o      lt<  <,ui.  I  .  ■.        '"*"-"''i"v  iiic 

,,..1       •      It  "■"■^P''^^''"''^  infi;:iiili..,|.  i„  Ki,,.  /;,        . 

;,.  ''^-  "-'  'f'^    stjiliiciis    111    |.'  ,,.    /••;    .1  . 


i*'''^.  'Ji,  wliile  u  amniiilied  suriiico  oT;- 


i'J  Fiu'.  Go. 


't't  is  show 


f'l'K.  01. 


''-|.-i.Hv  „  ,         ,  ,  :        ■  ";'■'"'■"*■'.'""   i'^  <«m„l  ,„o,.e 


(III 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 

m  III  2.8 

m 

■■"  IIIIM 

■'  m 

1  m 

I.I 

1.25 

1.4 

M 
1.6 


^i 


<^ 


/}. 


'cM 


A 


c^. 


^"a 


c^l 


(? 


.y 


y 


>^ 


ll-  _x_ 


T 


Sciences 
Corporation 


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iV 


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%^ 


6^ 


04 


!U 


MEADOW     I'OMH     (JKASS. 


ix\mnv.:uu\  lower  pale  obtuse;  on  .sand v  and  gravelly 
waste  ,, lares,  fVon,  New  En.dand  to  Illinois,  an,l  south- 
ward.    It  IS  from  SIX  to  twelve  inelie.s  high. 

SFioin-sTAi.KKn  Mkai.ow  (i:ro,,rosfl,  Frankii),  a  grass 
iound  ^n  low  sandy  greund  in  Ohio,  Illinois,  and  sc.uth- 
westward:  has  a  dense  .spreading  paniele :  .spike-lets 
Iron,  two  to  five  llowered,  on  slender  pedieels;  glumes 
acute  :  lower  pale  egg-shaped,  acute.  (J rows  irom  three 
to  eight  inches  higli. 

SouTffKHX  Ki{A,i,;osTi,s  {Frm/rostis  PursMl)  grows 
with  a  lengthened  panicle,  widely  sprea(h-no-  and  very 
loose:  on  sandy  and  sterile  land.s,  from  New  Jer.sey  to 
\  irginia,  and  southward.  8pikelets  shorter  than  their 
hany  pedieels  ,  glumes  and  lower  pale  acute.  Flowers 
111  August. 

BRANtiiixo  .^PKAi!  Okass  (Frm/rostis  ieUHls)  is 
another  species,  round  li-oni  Illinois  to  Virginia,  and  at 
the  .-<outh,  (»n  soils  similar  to  the  last,  with  a  paniele 
Irom  one  to  two  teet  long,  and  very  loose.  Glumes 
awl-shaped,  very  acute  :  lower  i)alc  three-nerved:  leaves 
irom  one  to  two  teet  long.  Flowers  from  August  to 
October. 

nAiiM.AXi('Li.n  Meadow  (Jkass  [Era,  frost  is  i'ajdllarls), 
with  Its  expanding,  loose,  and  delicate  panicle,  from  one 
to  two  ieet  long,  is  Ibimd  in  sandy,  waste  places,  and 
very  common  southward.  Spikelets  small,  two  to  four 
flowc.red.^  aiHl  greenish  or  purplish;  leaves  and  sheaths 
hairy.     Flowers  in  August  and  Septemlier. 

Meadow  Comh  (Ui.K&^.{Era,irosti.s povtlmwen)  is  found 
also  trom  New  England  so.ithwar.l,  nea-  the  coast,  and 
Ircin  ^Fichigan  and  Illinois  southward.  I'anicle  widely 
dill'use;  spikelets  flat,  h've  to  hfteen  flowered,  purple"; 
glumes  and  flowers  acutish  :  lower  pale  three-nerved: 
leaves  rigid,  long,  and  hairy. 


Qr.\KI.\(;    (ii.'Ass. 


95 


A  variety  uftl.is  sjKvit.s,  tl.e  Enu/wsUs  spedabiUs  h 
lound  also  .,n  si.nih.r  soils  and  situations.  ' 


!■''(-'■  till.     QiMkiii-  (Jra: 


V\K.  (i7. 


in 
!     1 


if 

PI 

1i 

!■;     ■■ 

1  ; 

I 

! 

1)1 

1 

1)G 


THE     KKSCUIO    CUASSE 


.■5"j.     I>(MZA. 


QiutkliKj  Grass. 

f^lnmcs  n.uiulisli,  t,i,tM|,ml.  ui'  „  ,,„r|.l,.  ,•,.!. .r.     S,,ik..- 
I»'t>    >i,ai,y-fl(.wc.nMl.   Ii^art  sInqK.l  :   Inwrr   pal,.   rnninhM, 
aiHl  .■iitiiv:   upinTsniall..,-,  e-o-slM,K.,|.  Hal:   leaves   Hat 
.stamens  tliroo. 

<.>IAKIX(;  CxijAss  iJJrka  ma/ia)  is  soniotinies  mef  witii 
'''  'Ih-  pastuivs  of  Massacl.usrtts  and  in  Pennsylvania. 
■  lanicle  erect,  with  vry  slender,  spn.ulin-  In'anelies 
aii.l  laro-e.  puri)lisli.  tremnloiis  spikelets,  from  live  to' 
lime  /lowered;  inner  glume  finely  frin-ed,  entire  at  the 
end.  Jt  IS  shown  in  Ffo-.  (5(1.  h,  F^.  (jy  is  shown  :i 
iiia-iiihed  spik-flet. 

It  is  u  very  I.eautifrd,  lio.ht,  slender  -niss.  al.out  a 
lo"t  high,  p,.remiial.  Flowering  in  June  and  July. 
Jiiere  is  an  annual,  the  [.ar(;|.:  Qiaki.v;  (Jrass  ( //yZ-'a 
ma.nn>a),  svith  large,  many-lh.wered  spikes,  cultivated 
HI  gardens  for  ornament,  and  gathered  for  vases  as  an 
interesting-  curiosity. 


36.  Fkstuca. 


Fescue  (rrasm-s. 


Ilie  characters  ol  this  gviius  are  ohioiig  spikelets, 
somewhat  compressed,  fr.un  three  to  main  flowered  • 
tu-o  very  uncMnal  glumes,  pointed  :  paleie  Voundi.sh  on 
lie  hack:  irom  three  to  five  nerved;  awn  iH.inted  or 
l-nste-shaped:  stamens  three;  flowers  harsh,  often 
pnipiish;   panicle  nearly  erect:  leaves  narrow,  rigid  of 


a  gi    \-isli  green 


Small  Fkscuk  (Jiiass  (F,'.,t„r„  fniella).  — The  small 
escuo  has  a  spikedike  panicle.  s(.m.>what  one-sided 
tn-m  seven  to  nine  llowere.l:  awn  of  the  awl-shaped 
palea  slend.'r  :  leaves  bristle-forme.l :  stem  slender  .ix 
to  twelve  inches  high.  It  flonrisli,.s  on  drv  and  sterile 
soils,  and  IS  common  from  New  Knglan.l  to  Illinois  and 
Wisconsin.     Flowers  in  Julv. 


SIIKKp-w     FKSCUK. 


97 


SUKKI'S    FksccK    {Frstxn,     nrlnn)      Vv^-    Cs     i      I 

"^"^ -I"...!*:. ,.  ,:«!,;:■  ;:r^..t;::; 


ic;i\c 


FiK.  OS.     Shoe,,'.  Fcs<Mir. 
1> 


;^''^'<  "'"M''<1  with  re.hitsspik,.. 
'•■f^   '^v..  to   six   iJowere.l:  awn 
;''fi'"  iiL'arly  WMMfiui,,    ItslK.uvr 
>^  sliown  iim-nincd  in  Fio-.  (;.,. 
.     ff    .^-i-on-s    fVnin    six     ti,     t,'ii 

""•'"'•^l"',^lKi.i.l,>ns...|,erenni.l- 

;'^'^'f'''J   tuCrs.  Innnino-  an  ex,v|- 

;-'"'     I'^^I'iraov    ior   shoe,,.        If 

<'^vo'-s    in    .]„„,.    ;,n,|    .lulv.    in 

IK'   dry  pastures   ..f   \„u.  'k,,,,, 

'■""'•  ^^vst^va^l    t.,    Lake   Snp'e- 

iioi',  ami  northward. 

IfAiM.  Fks,-,:k(;,.,ss(/V.v^.,,„ 
r^'07./.sW.,  is  also  HhuhI  tu 
■^<""^'  ext.Mit.  thuu,.;!,  net  s., 
^■^'".""'"'Iv  as  till"  small  fescu... 
^f    '>    I'v    st.iuo    regarded   as   a 

V''''H'ty    „f    tho     slHM.p's     H.s,.„o, 

taller,  and  with  a  panicle  nioro 
oiH'n.  leaves  ilat.  and  spikelets 
<"nr  to  ei.uht  flowered.  Itgnnvs 
I'foin  one  to  two  Ibet  hird, 
Flmv.Ms  in  Jnne,  in  pasturoj 
and  wastes  grounds. 


The  ni:i)  Fks- 
CUPJ  {Fe.stt(C(t  ni- 
hra),  \)\  some  re- 
g-arded  us  only  a 
variety  of  the 
prereding,  js  ^ne 
<d'  tlie  lai-gest  of 


I  ! 


jilli 


FiK.  6a, 


I  tstni 


M   •' 


OS 


i;i:i)    I'KscuK  (jRAss. 


l-f 


tl.o  varirtics   of  fescue.     Its  leaves  are   I.roadish,  flat  • 
root    extensively   ereei.in.cr.   a.M    tlin)win-    out   lutcral 


Fig.  70.    Red  Fescue. 


Fig.  71.         Fig.  72.     McMiInvv  R.-^.M.,.. 


flat : 
itoral 


yn:.\}u)\v   FKscr,.; 


99 


shoots.     Foniul  in   drv  ,..,  , 

-".ly  soils.     Itisaii^      Vr   "^■'^'-  ^'''^  «oa-l.oro,  ia 

'''■^'-oti.o.sp:i:/^^;^^  -*^-4nuiitvth.aso;.;: 

'•ough  on  the  e,|o,,  .  ,   ,7'?  '^^^  ^7^^^"'  Pointed,  st.-.Hted 

'>\    ^-^ot   loaves  a.^e   hroad       ^l'  'T"""'-     ^^'^ '-'^^lical 

!^  ^•'^ne..ally  na,•,.o^ver  l.ur^ 'V't-?  '^''  '"'^^''^^^^  '^'^^^ 
!"   •''"^'^'    "»^1  July    in   lit        ";    *'''  ''^*^^'^'-     f^Jo^vers 
''ouses.  ^'  "^   '"°^^t  pastures  and  nea.-  farm- 

'his  is  an  excellent  int 
;:onside.-al,le  portion  of  thV  turf  of '\^i '''"'"«'  ^^  '''^'y 
f^'Ms,  and  is  n.ore  extensivoK  °^''  ^'^•^^"''^■^  ^»"^1 

^-  ^'-  fact  that  it  Hpe  "  i^  '"Tf^'"'  "^^^  '^'^^'-^ 
^f -^es  are  cut,  and  si  v^  f  ;;T"'  ''''''''  "^-^  other 
^''^^  8'-on..d.  Its  lono/atl  '  V"  i^'"""^'  "^  ""^'  ^^^'^^^ 
'^^-J   by  cattle.      U^:  '  1;:"'"'  '«-'-  --0  much  rel- 

— "^n-,  notwithstanding,  it.  '  "' /'''^/  T''  "'  ^'"'s 
^•'»''"'  as  a  pasture  o,,,.^  Tf^  -^  *  '^"''  ^^clcnoudedo-ed 
-  -•^^"••0  with  o^her  g.ras':r?  '"'  f'  ''  ^^'-"^^'  ^e 
f;'-a-.  or  conunon  spear  p  '  f  "t"'^  ^'-^^^^^  O'o 

;    ''^  of  ,-reater  value  at  tin.  tLo  tfT     '-^  '°  ^"'"^'^'-^''^ 
tlio  seed  is  ripe.     If  i,  .„•.     '"'  of  flou-onng-  than  when 

-t.  of  its  .ii,,t  in:^,;;';;;:!::;^'^^''^  ^^^^^^  ^^^^-^^ 


i! 
i  1  [ 

■  ( 


I!  II 


I 


m 


ill 


lif  ipiii 


100 


TALL    1' ESC  UK. 


i  .  I 


I  U 


111  iulditinii   t(.   its  ipialitios  iis  a  pasttirc  gTass,  it  is 
said  to  luakc  a  wvy  ou,„l  (quality  of  !i„y,  nmcli  vdisliod 

I'.v  cattle,  'li,,.  iJandiill  uTi.ss 
is  liiglily  spoken  (.f  I'or  lal] 
and  winter  j)asturi's  in  the 
fliniale  of  Vii-uinia.  and,  as  it 
oilen  remains  green  nudcr 
the  snow  tlii'onnJi  the  winter, 
it  is  not  unl're(inently  called 
"  Evergreen  grass." 

Tlie  ^J\mj.   Fkscik  Grass 

{Fv.stuni  (/(i/t'ur)  is  also  iound 
pretty    coininonly    in    moist 
meadows  and    around    larni- 
liouses.     Its    panicle   is   con- 
tracted,  ei-ect,   or   .somewliat 
drooping,  with  shortbranclies, 
spieading  in   all    directions ; 
spikcdetfi  crowded,  witiitive to 
ten  llowers,  rather  remote,  ob- 
long,   lanceolate  :  leaves  tlat- 
tisli,  linear,  acute:  stems  two 
to  four  feet  liigh;  root  perenni- 
al, iii  irons,  sonunvhatci'ceninu, 
and  Ibrming  large  tuits.    Fig. 
74    sliows    this    plant 
at  the  time  of  flower- 
ing,  and    Fig.    75    a 
magnified  spikelet  of 
the  same.     Flowers  in 
June  and  .Inly.    Intro 
duced  from  Europe. 
Tt      is     a     nutritive 
Fig.  74.  Tall  K.sciu' (iiass.  I'ifi.  75.    .aiid  pi'oductivc  gras.s, 


^'•^.'■     76.  .*1,.,„1,,,.    <       M     '    I 


'li2Cr>5 


U'esrward. 


PROVINCIAL  LIBRARY 
VICTORIA.  B.  C. 


m 


i  <  '  i 


I 


102 


TiiK    iiito.MK   (;hass).;s. 


.»(. 


HlfOMU.S. 


liroiiic  (r>'iissi\s. 


Spikelets  from  five  to  iiiuny  flowcrcil,  |Miiic|i..I: 
gluiiios  not  (jiiitu  e(iiiiil,.>^lu)rti'r  t"liiin  tin-  lli.wers,  inostiv 
keeled,  the  lower  one  to  livi;,  the  upper  three  to 
nine  nerved;  pide;e  herbaceous,  lower  one  convex  vn 
the  hack,  or  (•(impressed,  kc(ded,  live  to  nine  nerved: 
awned  or  bristle-pointed  from  below  the  tip;  u[)per 
palea  at  length  adherin,-;-  to  the  groove  of  the  oblun^- 
grain;  fringed  on  the  keel;  stamens  three;  styles  a^ 
taehed  below  the  apex  t)f  the  ovary.  'I'he  grasses  of 
this  genus  are  coarse,  with  large  spikelets,' somewhat 
drooping  generally  when  lipe. 

Chess,  Ciikat,  Wili^akd's  I5r;o.\irs  (BrouiNs  secalititf)^], 
■  lias  a  sjjreading  panicle,  slightly  drooping;  spikelets 
ovate,  smooth,  of  a  yellowish-green  tinge,  showing  the 
rachis  when  in  seed,  and  holding  from  six  to  ten  rather 
distinct  flowers.  In  the  spikelet  exhibited  in  Fig.  s(> 
seven  can  be  distinctly  counted;  tlje  eighth  or  liintli, 
imperfectly  developed,  can  often  be  found.  Stems  erect. 
smooth,  round,  from  two  to  three  feet  high,  bearing 
four  or  iive  leaves  with  striated  sheaths  :  the  upper 
sheath  crowned  with  an  obtuse,  ragged  lignle;  the  lower 
sheaths  soft  and  hairy,  the  hairs  pointing  down\  ards  : 
joints  live,  slightly  hairy:  leaves  flat,  soft,  linear.  ;-.  ore 
downy  on  the  ii]t|)cr  than  on  the  underside:  points  and 
margin  rough  to  the  touch.  S>ninin'f  of  the  lam>  (/hn,ie 
vi'uhaii/  bdirevn  it.s  Ixi.sc  (utd  tlic  sniiniiif  of  the  second 
floret,  as  seen  in  Fig.  «()  (A),  a  constant  mark  of  dis- 
tinction from  Broiinis  f(i<rmosns  and  liroiin/s  viollis. 
Fig.  79  .shows  the  form  of  this  grass  a  l\'\v  days  beloic 
coming  to  maturity,  and  Fig.  81  u  magnified'  spikelet, 
while  Fig.  78  re])reseiits  the  same  in  a  more  advanced 
stage.  Flowers  in  June  and  July.  It  has  no  relation 
to  Italian  rye  grass,  as  has  been  claimed. 

Distinguished  from  BromnK  oi'veimH  in  the  spikelets 
havmg  fewer  florets,  and  the  outer  palea  being  rounded 


1 


<MKSS. 


103 

-S.rs::;,«s,;=s;rr;:::::;.s 


JJ^,MM'. 


Ficr.  7S. 


Fio-,  so. 


Fi?.  81.  Fi^.  7!) 


■i    li 


5'  !'■ 


>i 


H)l 


COMMIT  IKK. S     I!  K  I'll  I!  T     LI' ON     CIIKSS. 


Jl 


Notliiiin-  inorp  clearly  illiistrutos  tlic  want  ot'accurafe 
kiiowlcdnc  of  sii!)j(.cts   iiitiiiiiifcly  (•(.iin.'ctcd  with  a-Ti- 
<  ulture,  and  immcdiatoly  aliectinj;-  tlus  liirnicrs'  intcrcsrs, 
''''"'    '''•'    ii"'''*'    ivcent    history  of  the    j^'opa^^'ation   of 
*lii-^  woitiilrss  |H-st  to  onr  p-ain-fields.     It  was,  within 
the    iiKMiiory   of   many    fiirnicrs    who    sdlfcivd    fi-,,i,,    it. 
lu'iaNhMl  ill  the  iiapci's.  in  ••(.micction  with  the  names  of 
(hstin-iiished    friends   of  a-rienhnre,   with  tiie  earnest 
iHijK.  that    it  nii-ht  receive  extended  trials.     Mon.strous 
prices  were  ch,ir-vd  ami  paid  hy  the  tiirnier  for  it.s  .seed, 
in  many  cases  lo,,,-  and  h've  dollars  a  bushel,  u  pjed-'j 
being  exacted  that  it  should  not  be  allowed  to  go  hi 
seed.      Connnittees    of  agricultural   societies  wore   in- 
vited  to  .vxaiuine  and    re|)ort   upon    it;  ami  in  a  letter 
now  lying  before  im^.  the  disinterested  propagator  wry 
kindly  clfers  to   put   up  leu  barrels  of  bromus-seed   lo'r 
one  hundred  dollars,  saying  that  -'of  course  the  earliest 
iipi.licants   will    I,e   sure  of   obtaining  till   all   is   gone, 
Avhich  would   scarcely  give  a    barrel   to  a  state.     ^     ^ 
Years   luiist   elaps,>   before  the  country  can  be  supplied 
us   It  now  is  with    Herd's  grass   and  clover  s(.ed.     .Mv 
oiler  invites  coop(.rarnui  and  participation  in  the  profits 
and  pleasures   now  available  ••  — for  taking   advantage 
of  the  honest  credulity  of  the  public  .^ 
^  A   (piantity   of   bromus-seed    was   sent    to  the   State 
Farm   of  .Massachiis<.tts,  for  the  purpose  ol'  experiment, 
with  a  letter  with  directi(.ns  to  sow  with  clover,  i,,   (he 
spring  of  IS.-,.-,.     The  crop  w;,s  rut  while  vet  green,  and 
before  the  grass  had  developed  sullicieiitlv" to  distinguish 
It  with  certainty.     The  following  year  directions  were 
given  to  let  it  stand  later  in  the  sea<on.    While  engaged 
ni^  the  collection  and  study  of  specimens,  in  the  (a)iu-se 
of  the  summer  ,,f  l.s.-,(;.  I  gathered  samples  of  the  grass 
wiien  it  was  still   immature,  the   spikelets  huving'^pre- 
cisely  the  form  indicated  in  Fig.  79.     Without  giving  it 


->-\'     INTi;J.I.Mi|.;\T     .If  I, 


■  I!  V 


lor. 


'',;     in.^c.  ox.„„n;,„„„  ,„   ,1,0   „■„„.,  r  ,„■„„„„„ li, 

',7, ■'"■-••'"'■I.-  A  low , I,,,.  „?„.,,,,,,:,    ■ 

''■"I      «•"•         I     ov.„„i,„.,|     i,     will,     ,.;„,,,   „„|       ,„    ,„„.',    ' 

lnt:;.:;:'^;:t'^:;;;'r;'--''"''-'^-"H o,, 

;yf-ii:ir^:',,:;:":;';;:';;;::;'xt:r;;;;::; 

::;:;:::^rJai:';:::!;:;;;::^ -■-:;;:- - 
--:i;:;:;:;:;;;;'i!::;;;-:;;:;-'"?r'- 

ilii'  ,^•^ass  which  was   h'lsf   sulimiti..,!    C  ,. 
'      ■  "";"''"«•  <"■  -«lo  l„y  ,v„s   ,„k„„    {,„„,    „       ;    '  I 

;,,;":' 1'"-'' •■'■ "«.-., s«.io ,,,,„.,,.';;  ■ 

'"'^  u  I  111  or      incfH  (iw  ]fi\'  '    Ti,     I 

pioko,:  „,.  ,■,,„„  .„  „,.'■;„."■  !;:,:;.";;:.;;'■?  t''--":""^- 

ill  n.w.I>   +    •    1  '   ^.l.^.  .  (  >.        ,  fi,.   two   kinds   lilVcn 


t;  J, 
I . 
i 


I 


i 


trr^ 


106 


C(jmi-ai;ativi.j  tkials, 


n 


'  !■ 


Ill  tw-  first  trial,  witi.  broinns  m,,,]  reed  eaimrv  i^ras« 
tliero  was  no  choire.      Both  were  eaten  alike.      ^  ' 

III  the  secon.l.  with  hroums  and  Eiighsh  hav,  the 
I'^ii.U'lisli  hay  was  preferred. 

Ill  the  tiiird.  with  l.roM.us  and  swale  hav.  tlie  swale 
liay  was  eaten  Jirst. 

In  the  loiirth,  with  I.ronms  and  oat  straw,  tlie  hronms 
\vas  eaten  iii-st. 

IiUhe  tilth,  with  reed  eanary  ^rass  and  Kn^lish  hav, 
the  Lng-lish  hay  was  i)rer('rr(Ml. 

In  the  sixth,  with  reed  eanary  g-rass  and  swale,  the 
>^\ale  was  ehosen  at  oiiee. 

In  the  seventh,  with  reed  eanary  grass  an.l  oat  straw, 
till'  oat  straw  was  cliosun  first. 

In  the  eighth,  with  reed  eanary  grass  and  eorn-stalks, 
tlie  eorn-stalks  were  oaten  first. 

In  the  ninth,  with  hronms  and  eorn-stalks,  both  were 
eaten  nearly  alik(>  till  they  were  gone. 

In  the  tenth,  with  hromus  and  Tnillet,  the  eattle  ehoso 
the  millet,  and  did  not  toiieh  the  hromus. 

If  is  unneeessary  to  say  that  -Cheat"  is  a  tn.ul.le- 
some  weed  to  the  farmer,  espeeially  when  it  anpoars  in 
Ins  p-ain-lields.  It  is  an  early  grass,  hut  the  .piantity 
<•'  herbage,  and  especially  its  ,,ualitv,  make  it  unfit 
tor  cultivation.  TndeiMl.  ihv  onlv  species  of  aiiv  value 
or  at  all  fit  for  cultivation,  belonging  to  this  large  genus 
of  grasses,  is  the  JirojNNs  nrceN.si.s,  mul  even  that  has 
been  disearded  from  modern  agriculture.  It  may  be 
valuable  to  sou-  with  spring  grain  to  turn  in  green.' 

Smooth  IJiiomk  (;,;.vss.  or  ri-ijiciir  Cm.xs  {nro^uus 
rnve,„osus).  has  a  paniele  eivet,  simple,  rather  narrow 
contracted  when  in  fruit  :  flowers  closer  than  in  the' 
preceding,  lower  palea  excee.ling  the  upj.er,  beai  in-  an 
uwn  of  Its  o.vn  length:  stem  en-rt.  round,  more  sleiTder 
than  m  chess:  sheaths  slighilv  hairv.     hi  other  respects 


II'! 


SOFT     liKo.MK     (;I!ASS. 


107 


no 


It  IS  very  luiU'l,   l,ko  cliess,  hut   may  alv/ays  bo  distiii- 
guishi-.l  from  it,  as  well  as  from  Jironooi  arvens!^,  in  the 
summit  (jf  the  large  glume  being  lialf  way  I)et\yeeii  its 
base  and  the  summit  of  the  third  Horet,  on  the  saiiu"  side  ; 
^vhereas,  in  chess  the  summit  of  the  large  Mhiine  is  lialf' 
way  between    its   base  and  tlie  summit  of  the  mvoud 
floret.     This  character  is  constant,  mid  olFers  the  surest 
mark  of  distinction.     {{  is  common  in  grain-h'eld  ■.     Ir 
IS  worthless  for  cultivatit.n  except  for  green  mannrin-' 
_    .Soft  Ciifss.  or  Soft  [{ro.mio  (Jrass  {Brouuis  mollis) 
IS  sometnues  iound.     I  j.rocured  beauf.  ;    specimens  of 
It  at  Nantucket,  where  it  was  growing  in  the  turf  with 
other  grasses,  on  a  sandy  soil  near  the  shore.     Its  pan- 
icle is  erect,  closely  contracted  in  fruit :  s])ikelets  coni- 
cal,  oyate  :   stems  erect,  more   or  less  hairy,  with  the 
I'airs    ],o,ntnig    downwanls,    from  twelye    to    eighteen 
'•H-hes  high;  joints  four  or  fiye.  slightly  hairy:  leaves 
Hilt,  striate.],  hairy  on   iu.th  sides,   rough  at  the  ed..es 
and  pomts;  summit  of  the  large  glume  midway  between 
Its  base  and  the  aj)ex  oi'  the  third  floret,  by  which   it  is 
always  <]istmguished  from  Willar.fs  bromus.     Flowers 
•n  .rune.     ]]irds  are  fond  of  the  seeds,  which  are  lame 
and  ripen  early.     Of  no  value  for  cultivation. 

The  Wild  Chrss  Uiro,„ns  l-nhnn)  is  another  species, 
found  often  m  dry,  open  woodlands.  It  has  a  small 
simple  panicle,  with  the  spikelets  drooping  on  hairy 
IH'.lnncles,  seven  to  twelve  flowered,  ami  silky:  awn 
"'''•^-  ""-tlnrd  the  length  of  the  lance-shaped  flower; 
stem  slender  eighteen  inches  to  three  fbet  high;  leave, 
and  sheaths  hairy.  Flowers  in  June  and  July.  Of  no 
value  for  cultivation. 

FinN.;F.>  I5K0MF  (iu.ss  i/iro>.n.riliaf.s)  is  of^en 
found  ,n  woods  and  on  rocky  hill,  and  river  bank.  li 
lias  u  compound  panicle,  very  loose,  nodding;  spikelets 


\l 


m  ii 


■  i     i- 


'J     !•- 


lOS 


■MKAI.OW     IW.'OMI-;     (JIJASS. 


n,  July  MU.I  August.  Of  n.,  vah.e  i;„- 
I'lilriviitiDii. 

y'/v//r//,sv,v)  IS  u  pcivnuial  w,.,.,l  i„  tlic- 
^'"'•'^-"'■'•1-^  ^'l'  Kn.^huHl,  an.l  is  onlv 
'■'"■"•"inen.le.l  in  any  part  cC  Unvour 

'"'•«l'y,  arid  s.m'Is.  where  notliino- b^t- 
"■'•  ^^'l'  ^n.w.    Fi.  so  ,,,j,.,,,„ -^  ^,,i^ 

irrass,an,|  Fi;r.  s:!  a  niacrnili,..!  s|,ik,.|,.t. 

>TI.;ini,|.:    HuoM,.:   (;,;,ss    (y/.v>;,,,.,v   sfr- 
'■'/'-)  ,sl,Ml   nuvly  luPtwitl,.      I'anirle' 

v-iyloosr,tlirs|,.n,|(M-l,ranclK.s,|nM,,,- 
,  '".^•:    Ic'avcsliaiiy.     Klnuvrs 

/  ill  .'illy. 

'.  ^'ot    one    ..1'    tlu;    lironie 

/        irrasses  is  worthy  of  a   nio- 

/,'       menfs   attention  as  a  cnlti- 

vated  a-ri.ailtii,alo.n,ss,an(I 

til''  ••leaner  111,,  lai'nier  kee'ps 

Ill's  JieMsoltliein  the  Letter. 

:   ■'>^-  r\i()i,A.      Sjuhr  anm. 

Spikelels    Hat,   Iwo-e.I.-vd 

'ii'mylloweivd:  n.|,„„,,,,.,„„; 

I     l"-t'ssed,   keeled:    palea'    of 

'■    |«'i-til(»     flowers,     two  :     the 

^^>'y^'y   iK.at-shaped.  th..    ur)- 

l.'i'i-  <Ioul.ly  keeled.       (Jrai,, 

'i'<-'e,  smooth,  enelosed  in  the 
pales. 


^'i»-^  V.'.    M,M,|,nv  I!,-,.,,,,,  Gr..,„.     i,.;,,^  g. 


63. 


uiruluh,)   is   u  crass    f;,uud 


COMMON     HKKI)     (;i;ass 


10!> 


on  sana-Iulls  alou^  th.  runM  in„n  N'ir^ini.  soutlnv.nl 
;;;-  ^o„..  to   e.,hM.et  M.     Of  no  ^a  J   .o/:;;;- 

i>I!UAl)-Li;.\V(;i)  Si'IKF  r!i'\«//-'-    •   7      7    ,•  .  ,. 

»•--«; ' 4  :i;:;*'r  ;.%:;:',;:;;:;':;■ 


•'^'-    I^IRAGMITRS. 


-^ctY?  Grcm. 


OInmos  sliortcr  tlian  the  (luu-,.i.    I-     i    i    7 

«;o  !,,.„.  .i„.,„„  „.,.„„,,  „v , ;;;;.,':'t,;,,:M;:|;;:: 

tenuinal  ,,anicle..    It  looks  at  -l  /        '"'  '"  '  '"'-" 

'•'-'"  oo,n-corn;  ste.n  live  to  twelve  feet  InVh 

tg.-ow.onthelK.nlersofpon,lsandsw,unps.an^^ 
one  of  the  laro-ost  o.-ussos  in  tl,.  rnitcl  State        It  '   • 


40.  Ahundixaria.  (7^,^^, 


mens  tl 


live,  stems  woody 

10 


ig-er  than  t!)e  ovarj  ;   st, 


i     !       ;■ 


\l\ 


10 


cam;. —  Pai;m;l 


Tank  {Ariindiiuiria  mncrospenna)  is  a  perennial  p-ass, 
with  a  srnu  often  fn.iu  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  lieiglit,' 
and  (lowering,  in  Marcii  and  April.  Leaver  linear,  grreii 
on  iM.th  sides,  smooth:  spikelets  seven  to  ten^llow- 
ered,  purple,  smooth,  in  ri.-h  soils  in  southern  Illinois, 
Indiana,  Iventueky,  N'irginia,  and  southward.  The  stem.s 
are  extensively  used  for  lishing-rods. 


-fl.  Lkpturus. 


Flow 


(MV 


in  spik'o<:  rachis  jointed  :  joints  with  one 
spikelet:  glumes  one  or  two,  growing  to' the  nieJus, 
snnple  ov  two-parte<l. 

Slkximoh-tail  f}i;Ass  (LejifHrus paniculaf//s)  is  found 
in  Illinois  ;    an   annual,  flowering   in   .lune.     Stem 
foot    high,    comi)ressed  :    leaves    tdiorl,    rigid;    gl 
lixed,  rigid,  une.jiuil,  parallel.     Rare. 


one 
unies 


-tl.'.    LoLlUM. 


Darnel. 


Spikelets  many-llowered,  solitary  on  eaeh  joint  of 
the  eontinuous  rachis,  e.lgewise  ;  glume  only  one,  and 
external. 

Pehkxmai.  i^'K  Grass  {Li>Ih(mperenm).~^temeYoct, 
smooth,  lifteen  inelies  to  two  feet  high  :  root  ])ereimial' 
iilu-ous:  joints  four  or  live,  smooth,  often  purplish; 
leaves  dark  green.  lancM.late.  acute,  flat,  smooth  on  the 
(.uter  suriaee,  and  ronghish  on  the  inner  ;  glume  much 
shorter  than  the;  spikelet  :  flow.M-s  six  to  nine,  awnless. 
Flowers  m  June.  Shown  in  Fig.  84.  Fig.  85  represents 
a  magnitied  spikelet  of  th-'s  grass. 

It  has  had  the  reputation  in  (;rcat  Britain,  for  many 
years,  of  being  one  of  the  most  important  and  valuable 
of  the  eultivated  grasses.  It  is  probahlv  much  better 
adapted  to  a  wet  and  uncertain  climate  than  to  one 
subject  almost  annually  to  drongjits,  which  often  ^oi- 


I'Kni:.\\|AI.     i;v,,-     ,; 


A  S  S . 


II 


timic 
Tlieiv 


inaiiN 


I.- 


!>'■ 


( 


% 


fV-  84.      IVi-ciiii,,.|  |!y  (iriiss 


,,,"■'■''''  J'^"''''"""  ^'P  "von-  ^re.n  tlun^^. 
'''''l-,nu^,,,ss,thodK,n„.t,.nstirsnru-ln,^. 
vary  so  murl,.  iVuni  the   inllueafcs 

"'  ^'"'-••'"uMt...  aiulrultnre,  aspe- 
'V;'.-.alm..Tass.  ( '..•tain  it  is  that 
tins  o-rass  lias  l.,...]!  cilf ivatcd  in 
''^"^';"M    sinr,.    1(,77.    ,,„,    i,,    ^,^^^ 

--'•th  of  Franro  Ihun  li,..  iuune- 
"""•'^''-  It  isiMlniitted  t..  heiiifc- 
'■'^"-  '"  nntritive  vuliu-  t..   „n.hanl 

^■reeii. 

WlH.ncvcr  it  is  cut  Inr  hav,  it  is 
•HH'cssarvt..  talcc  itin  tli,.  hjossoni 

;"•  very  soul,  art(M-.  si,,,,,  c.tlicnvisj 
It   I.ecoiiies   iianl   ai,.]  wi,-v,  an<l   is 

:K.t  iylis|„,lI,vst,M.k-ufanvkiM.l; 
;"/''  '^  ^■I'angus  vny  rapi.llv  alter 
'''ossoniing-,  fh„a  ^  state  in\viii,-l, 
It  ci.tains  the  -I'eatest  ai„o„nt  of 
'^'•'^'''''  ^"«'i'->  *^-L-.,  and  tiiu  least 
amount  of  woody  iil.re,  into  the 
^fato  m  which  it  possesses  the 
least  amount  of  water,  siio-a,-.  At 

and  the  greatest  am. )nnt  of  wi, odv 
fd)re,andother  ins,,hd,l,.  soli,]  niat- 
tor.     A  specim...).  analvj^ed  ahont 
tlio    2(»th  of  June,  and    found   to 
contain  81'   per  cent, 
of  water,  and   \^   p^r 
'•''lit.  of  solid  matter, 
\vas  found,  only  three 
\\<'oks  later,  to  contain 
«"ily(il)  per  cent,  water, 
iiiitl  ;n  of  solid  matter. 


'/ 


I! 


Via.  So. 


lil 


112 


ITALIAN     l;VK     CItASS. 


Il   is,  illiil()uI>t(Mlly.  11    valiialilc    i^'l'iiss,  itiid   wortliy  of 
uttL'Ulioii ;    l)iit    il   i.s  not    to    hu   t'oiniiarc'd.  lor    llic  |uii- 

posi's  of  Nrw  Kiiuliiiid  a^ri- 
culturo.  to  'riiuiitliy,  or  to 
oi'clianl  urass.  It  |iroi|iiccs 
aliuudaiK'c'  oi'  srcd.  soon  ar- 
rives at  maturity,  is  icIislKMl 
\>y  stock,  liki's  a  variety  of 
Miils.  all  of  wliicii  it  exliaii>ts: 
lasts  six  or  so\('ii  years,  and 
tlieii  dies  out. 

Italian'  K'vk  TJijass  (Lulhnn 
I/iilionii )  \t;\<  licfii  recently  iu- 
tiodueei]  into  this  country. and 
is  now  nniKT.uiiin^'  ex|K'riuieiit 
wliicli  will   assist  in   deteruiiii- 
inu'  i+s  value  for  us.     It  dilTers 
lidin  ]ier(MUiial  rye  ^i-ass  in  the 
lloi'ets     liavin^'    Ivuy:,    slender 
awns,  and  from  l>earded  daiiud 
(Lolitiiii    II  iiniUiifi(iii)    in    tlic 
iilunies  lieiny,'  slioi'ter  than  tlio 
spikcdets.    This  diil'ereuc(>  will 
be    manifest    on    relerenct'    to 
Y\'^.  S(i,  and  Fi<:-. 
87,  wliieli    repre- 
\     K     /J//   /    sents  a  maiiiiiiied 
spikelet.    It  furis 
less  than  tiie  pe- 
rennial rye  p,'rass, 
its      stems      are 
liifiher,  its  leaves 
Fie.  80.   Italian  R.vi' Orass.  fil'.  ST.  are  lar<;'er  and  (»t 

a  lightev  ^reen  ;  it  gives  an  early,  quick,  and  successive 
growth,  till  late  ill  the  fid). 


'  U.MPAKKD     Urni     T  I. MOT,  IV 


11;; 


'''<»  say  till  It  it  i,. 
'  and 
'lilt    it    iia, 


r         .  ,  '"'  "■""'''    '^'^''   f!'f'    '>Ost    OTM^^   In    urn- 

ti'iii  or   otheru-ist.,  whil,.    ;,    ;^    ,„;  ,    ,  f      ^   ""■-■'■ 

n-narkably  m-o11.  ""'    '"  •^^'""'  "  '''■<•"«'" 

''''"'/^^•'■'■^  '•^'••'t  ''<I=iI>t...l  to  Italian  rvo  o,,,..  .,„„  ,, 


on  siu-li  soils  it  i 


ot 
)n 


■V|H...«I   luxun.nt  ami   ,„„,.i,ivc.   er„n i'l,       

t:^S:[;'^:  - '  '■-  '■-■--'  -'" -.i™ 

■'' -r,,:^;:;:,;;;;:;;-r :  ct;:'- ;'"-;:- 

""''■'■"■™  V c  i.  ,u.|i  k„„„,,  r,,„     „ '  ,""'"'r"'~': 

<^ll)(^-s.  Slioh    as  stMlvh.  U'lim    sno-.r     W.      It   Qo  '~   ' 

of  woody  fibre  and  •>  >(,";.  i'        '       ^   ^  P^''"  '■^"''^■ 

100  t.-u-N   Tu  ""■"'  '"■'^^^^'"  ^''  ^^sl. ;  while 

■  "Mu  I    «.4,)  of  a  onmnions  di-  (I,,  i,  c 

i''-!'-:i'i-^.S".irfiuty,,,.,u.,.,  ,4.11   ,,:■'"'''"' 

prinoipK  .N„ri,,  .,„„,  ,„„,  „    :  ^  ^"1 ,.;'";''  .7"- 

and  *' •>1  oC  ,.,;.>       i  'i-'o, -t.o_  oi  m  ood\- filuc, 

;'"J  -.-1  of  n.n.eral  matter  or  ash.     Of  these   the  fh.  ■ 

'    ".''''';7  ""• "'  ™'"-'''',  hy  ft,  ,i„, ,,  ,■'„„,,,,': 


4 


Ill 


tlie   Italiiin  rye  g-i-ass.  si 
(lotililc. 


|!|;ai;iii;i)    I).\I!m:j,. 

owiii-  ii  nutritive  vulue   iiearlv 


Nor   has   the    Italian    ry^'  u.n,ss   nuv  advantan-e  over 
Timothy  in  the  dried  state,  though  tlie  dilUMcnre  is  l.y 


iM 


Fig.  88.     Bfiirded  Darnel.        Imj:.  00. 


Fig.  39.    Many-fiowcri'd  1);iiiip1. 


loiirly 

over 
is  I)v 


C'Oirf,,     „UASH. 


wl 


115 


''loro  are  4'j'>  ooo    •      i 

; ""'«■  th.  m-0  e„ «;;;  Z  '"■"';'''^  -''■"'  it«  K 


•*3.    TlUTICUM. 


7^-  on  the  back,  .-nvne  1  ft-  „  "  '"  ^I^'  ^''"  ^'"'nos,  .' 

'"^:''.  ^^tmte.l,  having  five  or  .sVx  fi°  iJ'  ""''•"  ''^^'^"  ^'^' 

*J'--J-Ml.itJeavo.s  with  smooth. 


n     ji 


■4.^' 


IIU 


TWITCH    (ilJASS. 


strlatcfl  shoatlis  :  the  joiiifs  arc  sinontli,  the  two  iippor- 
mo.st  vury  ruiuoti; ;  luavcs  daik  ;^ti'c:i,  acute.  u[)1)l'|-  one 

liroailci' tlian  flio  Idwit  ones, 


ruuj^'lih 


Fi".  91.     (,'uucli  (iniss. 


Ii,  sciiiict lilies  hairy 
on  the  inner  surl'ace. smooth 
Mil  the  hnver  half.  Jiilhucs- 
'■(■iice  in  spikes.  A  spike- 
let  IS  seen  iua^nih('(l  in  Vi^. 
U'2.  I:'hi\vers  in  .lime  ami 
.1  Illy,  intidiliiced  Iroiij  Eu- 
rope. 

'I'lii-  plant  is  generally 
regarded  by  fanners  as  a 
tronhlesnnie  weed,  and  ef- 
forts are  iii.ide  til  get  I'id  of 
it.  Its  long,  I'leepiiig  roots, 
liranehing  in  every  diree- 
tion,  take  eoiiiplet(>  posses- 
sion of  the  soil,  and  impov- 
erish it.  When  green.  Iidw- 
over,  it  is  very  nir.ch  rel- 
ished 1)y  cattle,  and,  if  cut 
in  tlu'  lilossoin,  it  makes  a 
nutritious  hay.  Dogs  it 
the  leaves  of  thi.s  grass,, uid 
those  of  one 
other  .specie's, 
for  tlieir  me(li- 
ciiial  (pialitics 
in  exciting  \  om- 
it ing.  I  iitive 
seen  acres  of  it 
on  the  Connecti- 
cut River  meai!- 
Fi(f.  !ti.        ows,    where     it 


'""'    taken    I'osscssio,,    Ml.,! 

'■""■■''  "■'-"  «.-.s  o,;   ','"■"■  ",""■'■"""•'■■ «■- 

'"  "■ 1.^  "n,i  „„  „„.  I,  ,i<vj'  r'"T""""  '■"  '■"""•' 

■-'^'li<s,  like  c„u,.|,  ^,,,„,     ;;,  :  ,    '    :-  '-ri..^-  .•.,«(. 

if' '^ "..';:i'i::::;:";-M;t:"T"'"'-^'^ 

-^    V;iri,.fy    ()C,.,,1|,.|,    opm^    tl,,>    7'    •/• 

i"  ^-•^lu's -.s  .;';:;;;;:.';f -'V"W.m)  is  cultivated 


M.  If 


I XI 1 1(1/   frl'd.ssi-.s. 


(Ill 

l.n,. 


iiin'ssido  l.vsi,!,.  i,,  I',,,  '     .'  ""I"'    "'■'■''l"'r(.sh,l|;„,h 
-;8T.i„  I,,,,,,  ,,!,,,,,,,:■':;  ,^;^/|-^;-v,,u,l  is,,,,,,,,,,, 

•'n«n'?:;:;"';:,,r'':r'''r ■'■'■" ---''■'' 

l«cu,,,os,.    ,,,,\-.  ";;"''r^'''  '"-'■•'"■'  ■^'innosoto,  ,,,,., 
I'l.iiiK    oiass  la  moist.  Cvel   i>I.,,.,,c      i^ 

render,  s,n,otIUW.n., .no  to  tw,.i.t,J:;^"'^ 


^''ort  j...ves.  and  i,..,  I,,,,;:,; i:,',; "'' '''-'''  ^^•'^''  -t'--- 

I   tho   peilect   /lower 


---'-Hpedi..,/.,,,,.;;;^:;'''-'- '-••-J  «--'•■ 


1 11' 


lig 


TIIK     I.YMI'i     '/RAWSKS, 


St! 


m 


bearing  ttf^  '•vtn.mdy  lon^-  mwh,  alxMit  t\,  loimtli  of 
the  .similar  UaUy  ^'Iwues.  ;ill  spivadin-'.  h  .  .niiiiiH.ii 
(HI  moist  siiiids  aiul  niiirslics  on  tlic  si'u-slioi't',  How  tMiug 
in  Juni-. 

Baim.kv  (JitAss  {//onfiinii  j>>i.silhiiii)  jirows  from  iivo 
to  ten  MU'lics  hiuli,  in  saltish  soils  of  Ohio,  Illinois,  au<l 
wurttwanl.  Lateral  liowcrs  iiiipn iccf.  awiilcss,  pointed, 
the  porf'oft  llowcr  awncd  :  '^\uuu-^  linid.  shortaw  iicd. 
Annual.     Mnch  icIisJR'd  \>y  cattle 

T\vo-KO\V|.:i)  Haiu.HV  {Unnlinm  i/isf/'c/nnn),  as  woll  as 
Foi'K  andS.'X  uuwki.  IJ.\I!|.|.;v  {J/on/cniii  r>il;/i(rv),he\ow 
to  this  genus.  —  t?fc'  next  uliuiiter, 

4:;.  Skcai.i:.  jf,,,._ 

hpikolets  t\vo-llo\vcr<M|,  llowcrs  porfoct,  with  the  laidi- 
niotit  of  a  third  tcrniiiial  llowcr  :  jilnnies  nearly  ('(pial, 
nearly  oj)p()site.  keeled,  awnless  or  awned  :  ).;  Vs  Iierha- 
oeons,  lower  one  awned.  keeled,  with  sides  unecpia!  : 
upper  shorter,  two-keeled  :  sejiles  two.  entire  :  stamens 
three,  ovary  hairy:  linit  I'ree,  hairy  at  t'le  snn)mi^  ; 
H))ikert  sim])Ie. 

1{VK  [Sicn/r  ccirdh.-),  ;i  eonnnon  cultivated  plant,  lauiil- 
iar  tu  every  linnier.  —  ^!ee  next  chapter. 


id   Ki.vMfs. 


Li!  I 

m 


fjlliii'   Gi'dwcs. 


Sjjikelets  two  to  four  at  each  joint  of  the  rachis,  a,ll 
fertile,  each  one  to  seven  llowered  :  uhnnes  hotli  on 
one  side  of  the  P]iikel_et:  palea'  two,  lower  one  usually 
awned,  mostly  ])ei'ennial,  sonu;  species  annual. 

LvMK  Crass.  \\\\.\)  K'vk  [FJijihils  VlriihiivnH),U  '(xi:^. 
quent  alono'  the  liaiiks  of  rivers.  It  is  known  l.y  its 
ui»ri,i:ht  sjjike,  de.  •  ;uid  thick  on  a  short  ])eduncle, 
usually  included  'ji  ,  .  leate;  two  or  threi^  spikelets 
together,  two  ortli^r,  ,,  •iv.;r..>i,  smooth,  shortly  awned  ; 


!IS 


t    \.NAI»|\.N     (.v.MK 


li  liASS, 


im 


M:::rt:;:i™'::;;K';:i";:::v";i"- 


'""-flv   ill   ini,x    ..(•  H       "  ;'\.''^    ^•MM-mity;   s,„|<,.|ut.s 

'i"iov.„„.,c,„„;:,:::;:;;;:-'"'^--  '^-^ I'r 

;«•'',  on    (Ik.   shon.s    of  the   no,,,..  ■        J  ^    ':'""    '"^'^ 

I   V,.    t/.   -.;... I..    /!,..._  .  l"lvtlCth    ,lt     CUell      |,,M,f      (Vn.n 


'ivi'  to  (.jolir  /Iou-cm-cmI 


•   •  iLMi  ciocr,  round,  sinoof  1  •    l,..iv,.  •   i 

;■""■•  "^"-'i.  K'-^'.vish.  ,„,i„„„,.  „,„„,.,  • ;  ;  ■",  '"".'^■-  "-I- 
•'">•• ,  ";"■-  •■■■<"..  H,„  ,.,„„ J     ,  ";,..'   :?■'"'" 

ii  >liort.  oI)t,is,.  j;,,„K>   .,,,,1       .,    ,      ""  "  ^''i-^^  111  liavin-^' 

"^•'•-oH;,u;r::;;:;;r::;;;;;-i;«"tr,,.,,,^ 

'""I   pointed   liCTle    ■n.d       ;i    i  ' '"' .^''^^^'^   '"i'^  -•  Inn- 


^ 


'■ 


:;    II 


m 


Ik! 


I  i 


■'■'"•;     HAiK     (.KASSK 


MiH-ijiir    ral 


>^      (Ills 


JJriti 


nil. 


It 


grass    the    sii-'ar-cano    of   fJreat 


<'<"'(a!ns   a    large   (luaiitity   of  .sacc! 


mattcT,  an.l  it  is  probahle  that  mixed  with  I 


lis   It    IS   111     11 


mix  with  eummoii  hay  1 


""'.  't  would    In.'  vahial)h'   to  cut 


laniie 
>eaeli  liniss. 


cise 


b 


as  heacli  yr 


meiits  of  the 


iss  IS  lie  re,  t 


!^ea,  and   to  arrest  the  drift 


up  and 

is  used  prt.'- 

o  prevent  the  eiieroaeh- 


'"■  winter  leed.      It 


was  intnHhu.ed   l.y  the  I'atent  OlHre,  ami  eul 


various  parts  ol' tl 


10  counfr\- 


iii,U'  sand.      It 
tivated  in 


Bo 


rri-K-iiiMsii  (;i;ass  ,  A7 


(  VJljUitls 


commonlv  in  moist 


r()i'k\-  \v 


ixxliai 


aiil 


ri 
]e 


ght 


of  streams,  and  mav  he  1 


////.v/ /■/,!■)  is  ftmiid  rather 
"l>.  and  along  shaded 


qjike  and  spreading  spikelets. 


k'nown   l)v  its   h 


^(-)^('.   Ull- 


avcs.  sinouthish  II 


their  len-th.      F 
to  tl 


owi' rs  til 


i|i("( 


witi 


"inooth  sheaths  and 
1  an  awn  three  times 


If'   genus  ( 


•'^vis  ill  duly.      It  is  referred  hv  < 


species   of  El 
light 


rf/lillios 


f'lvh 


irav 


iihi. 


as    it    diifers    f 


ence  is  s 


developed, 
hrush,  \\  1 


Hums.  Ill    having   no    m|ii 


as    the   u'l 


me; 


I'oin   otlioM- 
Tl 


nines   are   often   mor 


no  s 


icn  rijie, 


pike  has  the  appearance  of  a  | 


le    (Uiler- 
e    or    less 


»(itt! 


Wi 


47.  \\ 


IIn!r  Cr 


lower: 


uudlowered   spikeh'ts 


/•(isscs. 


tl 
th 


ito 


tl 


'"  an  open,  .h^lfiise  panich 


10  l)ase  :    I 
•k:  u' 


'  Perfect,  shorter  than  the   glumes.  I 


<'Wor  palea  three    to    ( 


//. 


11'  I'ack:  gram  ol.loug.  snioo|l|. 
^V()(M)   Haii!    (in 


i\t'  nerved,  awned' 


lairv  at 


(III 


ASS.     ( 


i.runsd  ),  is  a  COl 


aiHl    roa 


"'    ('<»MM(i\    If. ui;    ( 
iimon  grass  on  ..n,-  ,i|.v  ai 


■  i;a.- 


osKie 


"teiib 


./ 


I'l  rnek\-  hil 


/rn 


ii»--irly   nakeil:   | 
loriiie 


slender, 


ea\-es  dark  ix 


"iH'    to    two  feet    hi-'l 


oraiich 


'■•''■n.  olleii    ciir\-ed 


es  ol  tl 


l>ristle- 


''  panicle  haii-\-,  sj 


"I  paii's:  lower  palea  slightlv  toot  |„.,| 
''"■  ''ax'.  iM'iit  in   the  midd'l,..  | 


"■'■adiiig.  niostl 


awn  startii 


ig  near 


^\nic|i  are  on 


pnrplisli. 


ong"!'  than 
I'^l 


gliinie: 


oreiinial.    I'^louers  in  .fiin(3.    Tl 


flam  1.  xmietiines  found  thirty-fivo  liundred  f 


lb 


L'et  altuvi 


treat 
ariiic 
;Tiiss. 
I  and 
pi'i'- 
)a('Ii- 
.  It 
i|  ill 


tl 


ic'i- 


lip. 
and 
nies 
Iray 
]ior 


icr- 


tic 


"iC-S. 


at 
(III 


rn 


0-) 


J 


l!i 


WATER     H  Al  1!     (;i!\SS. 


ond 


on 


/ 


\\ll-n     UAT     GliASS, 


123 


account  of  its 
Cattle  seldom  t 


;Tn\vii|o-  ill   tiilts.  clusters,  or  luissock 


oiic-li  II 


Natural  to  still' 


touis,  where  the  water  stands.      VI 

Vl'UI'LK    AlIMXE    II All!    (;i!A,ss    (Ju'U    uL 

anotl 


(>!■  luai'sin-  liot- 


owers  III  ,1  line 


'opiirj 


ler  species  found  on   the   tup  oi'  the  Whit 


)nr<'(i)   \- 


taiiis,  in  Xew-  Hampshire,  ,uTowiii<>'  f 


iiiclies  h|o||,  with  Hat  and  rather  wide  le 
Watki;  JIaii;   Ck'ass  (J 


<'  -Moiin- 
«•  from  ei'iht  to  lilteen 


ilVe: 


aves,  when  "reen.  1 


irii  (KjNdfirni.  Fio>.  9').-^  This 
is    calls    the    sweetest    of    the    Jiritish 

-tenis  anil 


m'l-ass    Ml-.    Curt 

grasses,  and  e.pial  to  any  foreign  one.      ft 


lav 


like  that  of  li(pioric(>.     Water  fowl 


I'ond  of  tl 


10  seeds  and  the  fresl 


0  a  sweet   and    a-'r(H'able   taste. 
s  are  said  to  he  ver\' 


oat  it  very  readily.      It   is  strict 
be  cultivated 


I  .U'roen  shoots,  and  catth 


on  imper 


•tl 


y  an    a(jiiatie,   hut   c 


in 


t'i'tiv  (iraiiied 


I  M)ii> 


4S.   1) 


ANTIIONIA, 


Lower  pale  seven  t 


vallv  twist 
>tl 


o  nine  nerv(>d.  with  a  Hat  and  spi- 


nij;'  awn  made  of  the  tin 


otiier  respects  iiearlv  like  Av 


ee  middle  iierxcs.     Ii 


ena. 


\\ 


iLii  Oat  (Jkass.  Whith  Toi-.  Oj.d  I< 


.sjHcnfa),   Fi^j;,   !)(;_    j, 


oi;  {Ddiithoi, 


m 


I  a  stem  one   foot  hii^'h,  slender,  with   short   1 


wit] 


Harrow    slieati 
seven-dower- 


•  •omiiion    in   dry,   sunny  pastui 


es. 


eaves. 


IS.    heard('( 


lower 


h'd  :     panicle    simple  :    spikelet,- 


liai 


I'alea    l)roadlv    ovate.    1 


ooselv 


ry  on  the   hack,  longer  than  its  awl-shaped  teeth — 

is  called  white  top  ii 


l)erennial.     Flowers  in  .1 


une. 


ll 


some  localities,  but 


known  bv  that  nai 


IS   not   the   grass   most  commonl 


lie 


It 


Fi 
9!):  it 


'.:   It 


iowei 


s  s])ikelet  a|)pears  ]iiagnih'e(l  in 


S    S(Mm 


lialc.  in  Fig.  9S  :   its  upper  pale,  in  F 


lU'. 


Ill  I'  I-:   1(1(1. 


d 


f 

I 

It 

: 

1 

i 

Spik(dct-;  two  t( 


49.  Tkisktum. 

II 


o  seven  llnwriv.l.  often  in  a  contracted 


panicle:  lower  pah-  compressed,  keeled,  with  a  bent 
on  the  back. 


awn 


l'2i 


IMJWAV     OAT     CJHASS, 


I)ou-.\v  Pkrsoox  {Trisetam  molle)  is  u  grass  with 
•  IfiiSL'  panicles,  mncl,  .•ontractod,  ubloii-  or  linear,  awn 
l.tMit   or   diverging';    lower   palea   compressed,   keeled: 


i'ig.  lur     r)o-.-n,v  Out  firns 


FiL',  ](ij.     MiihImw  i;i: 


»■  ' 'ill  OriiSS. 


vith 
iiwn 
led : 


^ 


^ 


^^^ K A I ) ()  w   -J  Y 


r     GUA 


.^.s. 


(>ave,s 


moiiiitii 


^lat  and  yl.orf  ;   |;„„„i 


Oi 


Ills,  alioiit 


"II   iiickv  I'iv 


11(1  a.^Ticulli 


"IK'     Innt     ||io.||_         If 


'■1-haiil 


ami 


M 


ii'al  \alii( 


l"\V(.|-s    in    Jul 


\i;sii    ()\T   ( 


IouikI    II 


•^"Utliwanl    i 


lo 


''"'•t,   si)ik-,.J,.( 

iig',  narrow-.  J 
Tlie    I) 


',  ii'"iii  \cn-  y„|.|c 
'•'""  tuototlireolecr   lii-l,    ] 


I     low   i:|-n||i 


S    \-( 


llowisli-wliit 


"">!',  Iiaii'v 


"U\V     ()v|.     , 


t-',  tin-cd 
spikclcrs  Hat. 


'  iS  a  sjiccics 
f"  Illinois,  and 

('itvc's  Hat  and 
n'ccn 


[)ani( 


y^vy  hardy  prici 


■  l.'ASS 


V.syY/ 


and 
of 


mial    -'ra.- 


//; 


"I  j»il)('.sccu.s)    i- 


'"I  ^"I'-li    soils  ils  I 
'"•"■>iy  liairs,  u-|,i,|,  if  ,„^,.^  ^^., 


t'ave's  ar 


"iiriiralizcd  on  cl 
('  oovcrt'd  uirl 


i;dl<y  soi^ 
1  fi  I'oatiiii 


tor  lands.      I 
M''';iss.  on 
■-^li.ii'lit   11 


t  1 


s  r('u'ard 


<''l  as  a 


K'l- 


lO()(| 


'"■'•'"i"t  of  its   liardinc. 

"'';;7--'-'- <'i' tho  soil,  and  vi;:id 


"■"  ''idtivalcd  on  I 
l"'i'"'Hnunt  [)astnn 
iiid   its   In-in-   hut  ; 


''^''•'•'■"^•"'■l'iftrr,.xtructiv,.  (I 


I  111:-  a  1 


on  1) 


"«->f,   lijii'lit 


>OII 


It 


■■■III  otlior   iii'aj 


,  "■'^"''  ;'s  H  pro.ninoi.t  inured 
ttires.     It,  fl,,u-,>.. I      •*  , 


i>.    tlicrol 


"TO.    n 


tlM 
th 


ou-er 


>  ca 


gi'edUMit  of  mixtures  j 


y  a  larger 

■'OS  ii'rown 

■ooniniendod 


'■M''imf-asita|,,H.ars"inl.I 


'''y  111  .Hdv,     Fio..  I,) I 


or  pa.- 


ossoin. 


I'opresents 


iL'i; 


Vi;i.|,(»\V     UAT     (JltASS. 


rUv  Vki.lcw  Oat  Grahh  {Acma.  ih,rv..n„.),  Fig   lO", 
can  sraivrlv,  ,,frl.a,,s.  l.o  iv-ar.kMl  a.s  mturali/...!  Ihmv! 

It  i-^  a  pci-iMinial  ])Iaiit   of  slow 
f;''""'tli    and    nuMliiiiii    (|iialil\-, 
I'ultivatcd    to    sciiuc    extent    in 
I''i'ancc.    and    snifalilo   for   div 
nicadows    and    pa.-tiires.      It  is 
>oiiictini('s  ivpirded  as  a  weed. 
Ir  liiils,  if  cnltivated  alone,  l.nt 
sneceeils    with    other   grasses, 
"lid    is    said    tu    he    tlie    most 
nseful  for  i'o(Mer  (d'anv  of  tlie 
oat  grasses.     It  seems  to  grow 
I'l'^t    with    the    crested    dog's 
tail    and   sweet-scented  vernal. 
It  contains  a  lai'ger  proportion 
of  hitter  extractive  than   most 
"itliei-  grasses,  and  lor  that  rea- 
son  is   recommended  hy  some 
English    writers  as  a  vahiahle 
pasture    grass.       It    llowers    in 
July.      Fig.  IOC  represents  the 
flower  of  this  grass  magnified. 
FiiM'LK    WiLH    Oat  {Avvna 
utritita)    is    fonnd     cm    rockv, 
shaded       hillsides, 
from     Xew     Kng- 
livnd      and      New 
r         ti\  AiJi  I  Vurk,    mnlhward. 

)  ^\\i\\i\      ^       %      iJf    '^^^'"'•■^  ^"^'fL'fl.  I''''"i» 

T/  one    to    two    leet 

high,  and  slender  ; 

leaves       narrow  ; 

I'anicle  loose  and 


Kijr.  iOo.     V  ll,,.,v    )a  Ci-as 


fig.  106. 


■'•^'■1.     OAT     (JlfAss. 

:'-;'';£>";:r-'i:M!:::L'*;;;;--' '■'■-"- 

^'-•tnn,ll,.^s,|..-sl,„p!!!;:  '""■  '"^''^^   I'igl' :  leaves 

<'VoryfHnner.--Sec3iH.xr,.|,a,.t.M-.  ""'^■"    ^" 

•">I-   A/(i;i(|.:.VATi,,.;j;,-.M.  ^y,,/  ^v.^, 

l;'S;r';;:::;;;;,;;;:::t:.;,:':'2V| i-'-w- 

l^eiow  the  „ii.|,||,.  uftho  biiek  '^'  '"'"^  •^"■" 

'i'-ALL  .Meadow  ()\tGim^<  ,,,.  'v 

'■/,„,„,/,,,,„„  ,a-,.„,,,,:,  ,„'■,■, ''  '  ■>'■';  '■>■'■  <■«•'-  (-/-- 

•■^I'ik^'l.'t.    upon  „., ,  c     I  ,   ""  '■'"'""■  "I '-""i-.i.-. 

"'••m,,-,,,,,,,,  1,.  , .  , j         ,    ;  '"•"•"""■^■'•"l.    I<.«<T   (lower 
»l-  l.udc    I         '  i     '"f  '-'■;"*  """"■'""■  ""■  '""'-lie.  of 

AmnpJi        ,;'•''''■'■'".•'">■    ^ .MM  ,.■,..  ,07. 

^    niLd  ^pikelet  js  seoii  m  F,u-.   I  OS 

<"'^en  lo„n,!  on  the  W l..  '  li:';;;; ,  f  7^''-     ^^    - 

1        itiiL.s,  ,in((    IS    f^otuotimes  V(M'V  nlpntv  n,    „ 

''^»<J«-     After  l.ein...  n.oun   if     1.     )  •         i'ion„,^. 

Hfternmtl,.  and   on  ^I,  ,  "^  '"  ^'^^'••^'  '^''^''^ 

''•^  ^^i"-»l  'o,  ex.-ellenee  to  tlKM-ommon  meadow  fox- 


I 


I 


128 


TALL  MKADOW  OAT  C.'ltASS. 


tail.     It  has  boon  highly   icconiinoiKlod  for  soiling, 
tiirniriliing  an  oarly  i^ui>])ly  of  i'oddor. 


as 


Ui) 


MK  AD)\V    so  l."i'    <•  I.  .    .  . 

.>ui'  1    (.  iJAss.  229 

It  groAVs  spoiitaiieuuslv  <,n    ,|„„,,        ,  i 
tent     II    \,Mv-    l<',,  .1       I  ,  '""i\'n«-'<|   to  si)iuv  v\- 

''-'<i"^  it  very  Veil  cd^,,:;^^^ 

••■m^s      If  will  .„        Y  ^'^  •'  l"''"'^'>"''it   .mst.nx. 

«ia.h.     It  wiJi  succeed  cm  teiuicious  clover  «oil.. 


52.   floi 


CCS. 


''^pikelets  two-fi       ^ 

uiiics  l)()iit-sIiaj)(Ml,  merni' 


J  fro,/, 


oil- 


S'n/y  ( 


mifis. 


owercl    juinte.l    whI,    tlu.    podicej 


'•<••■' I iiiM'   tlie    iloAvei-s 
|»ale;i   iiwnless  and 

(illlv 


'raiiaccoiis   vnr\ 


OSllli 


and 


mens  throe 


pointlt 
I'eaniio-  a   stout   lient 


ower  llower   perfbet,   its   I 


"PPei'  tlowcr 
i\\'ii   below  the 


grain  free,  sligiitly  gTuov,.,] 


ex- 

ower 

•'taniinate 

"PL'X.        .^til. 


cle 


-Meadow  Soit   Grass    ^' 


KI.V 


lias  \\i 


-pikelt'tsri'o\\(K.d 


iiiid  an  awn  witli  tl 
It   ]}:,Yo\\^  from 


"1  a  somewhat  open  jiani- 


a- 


10  lowei'  pai't  i)er(bctlv  smooti 


round 


niot  pereimial,  fib 


"•'  to   two   foot    hi;..], :  ^t 


>'|it.  downv  sheathe 


'rou> 


leaA-o 


''<;    iiiHated,  ligule   obt 


upper  sheath  niiirl,! 


em  erect, 
"I"!'  or  live,  with 


crally   eovei'od    with    soft,    d 


iK^o;  joints  usuallv  fou 


ongor  than  its 


'■;  nen- 


whicl 
broad. 


'  'H'c   turned   d 
acute,  sott 


o^vny  hairs,  the  points  of 


slender  hairs.     Jn/I 
greenish,    reddish, 
"blong,  tipped  with 


nwarris;  leaves  yiaie-groen,    f! 
•"I  ''<ith   sides,  covered  with  de"l 


pill(\o, 


Fl 


owors 


in  .) 


'ig.  10!».  and  its  flower 


>rescence  compomd   panicled    of 
"^'   P'"1<'"^1'    tinge;    hairy    yl'„m 

,'  """"to  bristle.     Florets  of  t 

'mio.     Jntrodueed.     ft 


icate 


a 


es. 


wo 


This  beautiful 


s  magnifi 


e( 


1  in  F 


IS  seen   in 
i«'^-  111  and  112. 


""b^.  but  I   have   found    it 


grass  grows  in  moist  fi(.|ds  and 


ft 


ipland  Holds,  where  it 


'"  fliy,  sandy  soils,  and 


peatv 


was  cultivated  with  oti 


on 


IS  productive  and  easy  of  cultivati 


value  either  foi-  pasture  or  I 


ler  grasses, 
on.  I  Ml  t  of  very  littl 


of  it.     Wl 


lay,  cattle  not  I 


e 


len 


once   introduced  it  will 


enii 


jnd 


i-eadily  spread 


HI 
i 


i;;ii 


CHEEIMNU     SOFT    GHASS. 


i'ldm  its  li<;iit  seeds,  wliicli  uio  easily  dispersed  Ity  the 


M 


le 


f 


HOLY    CRASS. 


131 


^vii.'l.     Tt  .Ws  not  m.-rif  .•ulfivatiu,,  ...x.vnt   on  poor 
l-ty  lands,  wh..,v  letter  gnoses  will  not  Iceed!' 


ii^'.  111. 


Vi-^.  112. 


FiK.  IM 


Kif.'.  114. 


Til,.  r.-KKi.f.v.;  Suit  GnxHH  (I/oIcus  moUis),  Fi-   no 
'■^"1  'h:  valii,.  .nd  is   r..o,,,,lod  as  it  troublosome''weo.l.' 
•s'n.;;.n.slH.d   (rum  tl.o    feeding  l,y  its  awned  liorot 
•""     'f.^    ••'v.i.ing   root.     Tlie    (lower,  of  this  grass  are 
>^'i'>i  nmgnilied  in  Figs.  U;]  and  114. 

huuclo     open,     .spikolots     tlireo-flowored :     tl.r     two 

,eV    I  '^'     ,       "^  ;'"--"-vered;  ilowers  all  with  two 

aleas    hrandies  ol    the    panicle   smooth;  grows  from 

twelve  to  eighteen   ineh.s   high.     Stems  oreet   r    Z 

s  nooth  :  panicle  somewhat  spreading,  rather  o.u.:  ! 

u  otii   r  i  •  ^""V"!""'''^^^'  '•-^''  -'  the  inner  side; 
Muootli   behind  ;  spike  ets  rather  hn.-P      (\.  .      • 

lbli,4:       '"'    """"'""'  '■"'"'■  -"'   vo.y  BlfgU  spring. 

!-,'>l,-.«.     11  om     two   Gl'IM'k   U'ni-,1^         :        -C    •  ' 


in   the  north  of  I 


nope.     Jn 


HDit's  day.s 


^weden  it  is  sold  to  1 


i 


)e 


132  s\vi.;i.;t.sc  KNTKi)    vi;it.\Ai.    (;ka.ss. 

Imii-   up   over   l.cds,    wlierc    it   is   siippos,.,!   f,,   i,„lu,v 


siccl). 


Al.l>l.\|.;  Iloi.v  (;i;ass  {  Ulrnxhlnn  Aljuun)  is  (oiiirl  ..|i 
lM()iiiitain.t(.|.s  ii,  \,.\v  |.;„n.|a„,|  iiii.l  \,.\\  York,  uimI 
in.rlliwiinl.  V-.uurl-  .•out  l  urtr,!.  iVciii  „i„.  (,,  t\v..  iiVli... 
I(»ii;4'.  liowiu' l.'iivo  iiaiTdw.  Fl..\vrrs  in  Jiilv,  ()||„, 
viilin-  for  ciiltiviitiun. 

-jI.  Aniiioxantiii'.m. 

Spikelots   tlii(M-l|(,\v,.rc(|  in  spiked  paiiick's ;   (||(.  Ij,f,.. 
nil  llowers  lu-iitriil.  coiisistin;;'  only  c. folic  pak'.  hnirv  on 
tlu'  outside,  and  awned  on  tlie  hark.     Chimes  verv  tliin, 
a;'Ute.  keek'ck  the  upper  twice    the  k'n-th  of  the  "hnver 
and  as  lon^'  as  the  iiowors.  ' 

S\vi;i:T-s(i.:.vn;i)  Vkijxai.  (i  it  ass  { .\nllHKn,Hlhu„i  i„l,,- 
m/////o.  -  Spikck'ts  sprca(hn-  thivc-th.wcrcd  :  |ai,.|a| 
flowers  neutral,  with  one  palca.  hairy  on  the  outside,  and 
awned  on  the  ha<-k  :  -iuuies  thin,  acute,  keeled,  the  upper 
twice  as  lon<4'  us  the  lower:  seed  ovate,  adhering'  to  tliu 
palea  which  encloses  it:  root  iieivnnial.  Flowers  in 
-.May  and  .liiiie.  .^ti'iiis  froiu  one  and  a  half  to  tw,,  Hm-i 
hi^'h.      Introihiced  IVoni  Kiirope.      It  is  seen  in  Fi^.  II,'). 

This  is  one  (d'  the  earliest  sprint-  oTasses,  as  well  as 
one  (d"the  latest  in  the  autuiun,  and  is  almost  the  onl\ 
g'rass  that  is  iVa^'rant.  It  possesses  a  property  said  to 
he  pei'uliar  to  this  species,  or  possessed  hy  onl\-  a  i'cw 
others,  known  as  hen/.oic  acid:  and  it  is  said  to  he  \\\\a 
which  not  only  <i'ives  it  its  own  ai'omatic  odor,  hut 
imjiarts  it  to  other  ^Tasses  with  which  it  is  cuivd.  The 
green  leaves  when  hruised  n'ive  out  this  pGrf'uine  to  the 
finfi,'ers,  and  the  plant  may  thus  he  known.  It  possesses 
hut  little  value  of  itself,  its  nutriti\-e  ]iroperties  heiiii; 
sliu-ht;  nor  is  it  iniich  relished  hy  stock  of  anv  kind:  hiit 
as  a  ])asture  ,<:rass,  with  a  lar.ti'c  mixture  of  other  s[)ecie.s 
it  is  valuahle  for  its  early  i^-rowth. 


I.'KKI) 


'   A.VAKV    (;i; 


A  S  s  , 


i;j;{ 


ii 


i>  iidt  111 


■'■"^Vlll-  ;i,    ,1    i, 


;:'';;,"•'"'!' ;"  '■•"•  i-^u''-  a,,,!  ....uLkies. 


^\■<'|•(■  iii(||o-,,,„,„ 


l-^i''ri((..l  Viriiiil.        Fiir    ]]!). 


V'«-n<^.     n..,.,lCannr,GraH^ 


134 


SKKDS     OF    S\VIOKT-S(K\Ti;i>     V  K  I;  \  A  I. 


Tlie  tiltL'niiiirli  or  fall  growtli  of  this  licautil'iil  ^rass  is 
Stiid  to  lie  riclier  in  nutritive  (pialities  tluin  tlu'  ,i;r(>\\tli 
of  the  spring-.  Though  it  is  pretty  generally  (iiffiiseil 
over  the  eoiuitry.  it  is  t)nly  on  certain  soils  that  it  takes 
conii.lete  possession  of  the  surface,  and  forms  the  pre- 
dominant  grass  in  a  permanent  turf. 

A  curious  and  lieautiful  peculiarity  is  exhibited  in  the 

see<ls  of  this   grass,  by  which  they  are    pivvented  from 

germinating  in  wet  weather,  after  approaching  maturit\. 

and  tiius  becoun'ng  abortive.     The  husks  of  the  blossom 

adhenngto  the  seed  when  ripe,  and  the  jointed  awn  by 

its   spiral    contortions,  when  allecte(l   by   the  alternate 

moisture  and  dryness  of  the  atmosplu-re",  act  like  levers 

to  separate   and   lift  it  out  from  tlu*  calyx,  even  beHuv 

the  grass  is  bent  or  lodged,  and  while  the  spike   is  still 

■erect.     If  the  hand  is  moistened,  and  the  seeds  |)lace(I 

111  it,  they  will   appi'ar  to   move   like    insects,  from   the 

inicoiling    of  the    spiral  twist  of  the   awns   attached   to 

them. 

The  llowers  of  the  sweet-scented  vernal  grass  are 
seen  iu  Figs.  IKi  and  117.  There  are  nine  hundred 
and  twenty-three  thousand  two  hundi'cd  seeds  in  a 
pound,  and  eight  pounds  in  a  bushel.  It  camiol  be  said 
tt»  belong  to  the  grasses  u^ri'n\  I'or  general  cultivation. 


0.). 


lAl.AIMS.  ('dt/ili'//    (irtf.SM. 

Spjkelets  crowdeil  in  a  dense  spike(l  panicle,  with 
two  neutral  rudiments  of  a.  flower,  one  on  each  side,  at 
the  base  of  the  llattish  perfect  one:  awnlcss:  twoshiin'M- 
pales,  shorter  than  the  e(pial  boat-shape.l  glume>,  closely 
enclosnig  the  smooth.  Ilatteiied  grain;  stamens  three. 

Hi;i-:i)  Canauy  (iiJAss  {Pludai-is  ai'iiiidiinnrit)  has  a 
panicle  very  slightly  branched,  clustered,  somewhat 
spreading  when  old,  but  not  so  iiaieh  generally,  as  ap- 
pears in  Fig.  US;  ghnues  wingless,  rudimentar\-  Horets 


•^TiJii'Kn    (;i!Ass, 


135 


f 


j|HUT;ste,n  i-ound,  smooth.  er,M.t,fVo,n  In-otosovon  feet 

::,,."v'""  "'»"•  '"■'■  i'"i"i.-«i  ti,ou»a,Ki  g„,i,: 

8'1-een  iiiaimriiig.  o   ^  '   J"   .i>   -i 

.        .111.1.       .I.A..«(      ,|,„     p,,,|,„         ,.,,,;,.,_,  „ 

I"'   .y...!  ...mry  aruss  will  boar  ,.„„i„,.  two  „ 'tl    "o 

.Mr...     Cat  lo  ar,..  m,t  very  Ic,,,,!  „r  it  „t  „„,.  ,„,,; 
'<» J-rowh;  l,„t   „-,„t  early  a,„l  w,.||   nnv.i    tli,^;  wi  | 
™    .t  ...  the  w,„tor,  i,-tl,ey  ea,,  «..,  ,„„|,i„.  |,  ',    / 

:t,i;.z;::;-;-;-;:::;!;t,--r 

•,        ;.  ^   '"'H-   ,nsfan,vs   or  .   sin.ih.r  nafuro 

"•'^<'  .il.M)  coiue   to  iiiv  iiotire.     ()„,'  fmne.-  I,...   . 

K...e.litexte..sivolyi„-|H-«.,,t,a.a     ,  ;,,  r;^^^^^^^^ 

'■'''."'"■fi '■*»  ■■"'"  •!.<•  ......1  wi,i,  i,i,  i;.     : 

...  I  .. ..(....,  a.al  so,!,  ,1  ,.„„stitutes  o„lv  a  va.-iotv  ..C  tia. 
lu  ri  ^\er  and  imiddv  sod. 


adv 


itiiced   to   show  tlii.- 


Mi-Hsa  as  It  oi'diiiariK-  a] 


■  IHH'inion  too  ihr 


pi'ars 


\A 


136 


NUTRITIVE    QUAIJTIKS. 


tlie  panicle  or  liead  is  too  spivadino',  and  not  sullicientiv 
Ion,i;-.  I  have  fine  specimens  witli  panicles  tiiree  times 
as  Ion,--  as  appears  in  the  drawing,  and  more  in  the 
shape  (if  a  spike  dt'  Timothy. 

To  iiseertain  the  exat't  nutritive  rpialities  of  tliis  grass 
when  cured  as  hay,  a  carolul  analysis  has  liecn  made,  at 
my    re(|ucst.   hy    Prof.  E.   X.   Ilorslord.   ot   Camhridge. 
with  th(!  lullowing  result:  Of  water,  the  sjiecimen  con- 
tauied    10.42  per  cent.:  ash,  5.31    per  cent.:  m'trogen, 
.iM   per   cent.:    nitrogenous    ingredients,    flesh-forming 
principles.   ;3. .').'}   per   cent.;  woody   fil.re,   starch,   guuu 
sugar,  Ac.  SO.To  per  cent.     It  will  he  seen,  hy  reference 
to   a  sulise([uent    page,   containing    amdyses,  l)y  Pmf 
Way.  that  this  grass  is  very  fiir  iiderior  to  many  other 
grasses  exann'ned  by  him.     The  -panicles  of  this  grass, 
if  allowed   to  stand  after  the  time  of  tloweiing,  liccome 
filled    with    ergot,    or   long,  lilack  spurs,  issuing    from 
between  the   glumes,  and  occupying  the  |)lace  of  grain. 
This,  if  ther(>  were  no  other  reason,  would  be  sufficient 
to  deterudne  that  it  should  be  cut  at  or  liefore  the  time 
"f  flowering.     ]    have   never  seen   rye  worse   affected 
than  my  sp,.cimens  of  this  grass  are.     The  effects  of 
this  mysterious  disease  are  well  known.     The  noxious 
l)Ower  It  exerts  on  the  system  of  animals,  whicli  receive 
even   a   small   portion  of  it.  is  oftentimes  dreadful,  juo- 
ducing  "most  horril.le  gangrenes,  rotting  of  the  extrem- 
iti(>s,    internal    tfU'tures,  and   a-'onizin-  death.      It    has 
heen  known  to  slough  and  kill   not  a  lew  human  iuMiigs, 
who  have   uccidentally  or  inadvertenllv  eaten  grain  or 
flour  infected  with  it."' 

1'he  flow(>r  of  tli-e  reed  canarv  -rass  is  shown  in 
Fig.  119.  The  variety  called  striped  grass  (  CW/o/v./a) 
IS  exceedingly  hai'dy.  and  may  be  propagated  to  anv 
extent  by  dividing  and  transplanting  the  roots  In 
moist  soils  it  spreads  raj.idly,  and  forms  a.  thick  mass  of 


MILLET    GRASSES. 


187 


fill  ,  ,  O     '    '  '"    '»• 

I  lie   Common  C\\\i>y  < '„,..,  ur   ,     ■ 

u,.i:.i  ,,,;,,  ™  '"■ •"-'-  ?i"-s  win, 


•~>'>-  .MnjcM. 


J^7/</  Gnis.s. 


^"iiiK,   ov.ilc,  very   „l,f„se  :  Inivi^s  l,n„,d 

^.-T.  .s  a ,,.,, :::  ^•.!^::™;:";:■''''''-'-^-■ 
o;^S:l•;;i:;^;^;::l;; :,  -r^ 
;™^-o.-...,u.uri';::;;r:;;::;-;:;i;^^ 

•">T.  ('v.\osi-i{us. 
1-0.      llns  grass   is   .ardy   H„uh1  ^• 


iii-* 


Mere 


hilt 


iiiis   been 


ji 


i;;s 


CUKSTKi)     l)0(;"s-TA  I  J.. 


introdiiciMi  ;iii(l   cultivated   td   some   cxtriit   liv  wav  of 
expeiiiiicnt.       Its    spikes   are    simple,    linear :"  spikeiets 

uwiiless:   stems  one  loot  lii,uii, 
.still",  smiKiili  :   I'oot   j)eix'iiiiial, 
liliinus.  and    tul'led.      Flowers 
i"   duly,      it    is    said    to    l>e  a 
valiiahje     j)eriiiaiieiit     pasture 
grass ;   Imt  cattle  seldom    eat 
it  alter  it   is  I'ipe,  on   aci-oiint 
of  its    wiiy   stems.      On  dry, 
liard  soils   and   liills,   pastnred 
with  <lieep.  it  wonld  doid>tless 
lie  oi'  vahie  ibr  its   hardiness. 
At   the   time    of  llowering    it 
is   tender   and    nutritions.     A 
niagnilied  spikelet  is  show  u  in 
Fi,U'.  ll!l. 

'J'he  stems  of  this  grass  are 
used    Ibr  the    manufacture   of 
pliit     for    fveghorn     hats     and 
honnels.  and  have  the  reputa- 
tion of  lieing  e(pial  or  superior 
to    Italian    sti'aw.       They    arc 
gathered  green  when  in   Iilos- 
som.     imniersod     in     boiliu"- 
water    for    ten    minut(>s.    and 
then  spread  out 
to      hleach      for 
eight  days.     An- 
ther   mode    of 
treatment    is    to 
O'l'p     theiii     in 
i'oiliiin- water  I'or 
'in      luMir,     and 
keep    them     moistened 


then    spread     them     out. 


Ki-'.  121 


and 


■lOlST    (JKASS. 


13!) 


;  It 

A 

1  ill 


roKnlarly  till  tlK.y  l.oromo  dried,  or  for  two  d.v    u-l 

-ya..ophK..,inati,i.tvessda,KlsS^^ 
'"'"OS  01  buiimig  sulj>ln,r  for  two  hours. 

•)8.   J*.\si'.\i.iM. 

""■'.,     short     iKHlic-e  ,;•   h  ••-•'"•S.l-n.ted.with 

'lowered     am    ,;',;•'  /^^'^^^^^^^  '"'t     "iie- 

FL0.vr,x.;    I>.s,..u.,M  (P«^>^/,,,    ,/,;,,,,,   i^  ^^   .„ 

:  t::d  %r^'''''''^ "?'  ^ '''^"'''^  ^^^  '"-is:;: 

or  :      ■     .:!'""^  7'f  ^  -Hi  rootin.  in    the   n.ud 

HA„n'  Skkx.k.  l>,s,Mu-M  ,A,^./.,.  ,,,.....,  ha. 
;;''<;y--;'-"n.lH.nt,  slender  euhn.  Iron,  one  to  t  vo 
1-et    h,^|,    h„ves   and   sheaths   hairv :    spik..  sh  .d   , 

-ooth    nH>stly  solitary,  on   a    Ion,  p..dui:'i:  s^^^^^^^^^^ 
"'trrowly  two-rowed.     Fiou-c.-s   in    V  e.int       If 

- -dy  iields  and   plains  near  the'':^;^:,,  J     :X^^^ 
-ninon    from   Massachusetts    to    Jllinoi:.   an.l    ^^I^U- 

SAmoTM     Ekkct     I>.s,..u,-M    iPn.y.nhnn    /.-..)    is     aNo 

ioui..l   on   mo.st  soils.  Ironi  New  England  to  Ke   tnH 
jmds      t,         ,     ^^^.^,^^,,^^,.^_^.^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

tothieefeet    h.oh:   leaves  lonu' an<l   lar-e    with     ,.,      ti 
n\o  lowed.      Mowers  ni  August. 

"',  '''''■-  '"  ^  "■«■ '  •""I  -"ml„v„n|,  HcvtMi,,,.-  ,„  ,I„K. 

pninti'il.  -o,-"''!'"!  .111.1  .-liglilly 


II 


I  10 


Tin-;     I'AXIC     (JJiASSKS 


Fi.\(;|.;i(-s(r.\pr:n  rAspAi.rM  {Pasjiahnn  du/itnria)  is 
hIs,.  fumid  in  Vir-'inia.  niid  rurtlicr  south,  "...owiiiu'  rmin 
uiK'  to  two  IL'ct  high;  spikes  .slender  and  sparsely- 
flowei'eil. 


;  ■  i 


rv< 


")!).   Pan 


ICLiAf. 


Pdiiic  GniHHi'si. 


Spikelets    panicled    or  racenied,    soniet 
,i;liiines    two,  the    lower  one   short,  ininnt 
lower    flower    neutral,    rarelv 


niies    s 


I',  or  wautini 


piked 


■-stamens  three;  .stigma-,  usually  jiurpl 


iwned  .     upper    perleet 


^lj;M)i-:ii    CiJAis     ( 


1 1!  ASS 


<(  It  IV  mil 


J'fif 


oriiic)    IS    an 


F 


Min-er- 


annuai   hiiger  grass,  somewhat  res(mil>ling  tl 

shaped  Paspaluin.hut  the  ni>pn-  qlninv  iin'inl.s  the  tloan 
while    the    I  ■  .  7  ./ 

iiKire  erect.      It  llourishes  on  sandv.  dry  soil 


lii'ai'  t  hi'  cdasl, 


ower  IS   iiearly  wantiiio-.  and   th(>  spikes  are 

s[)eeially 


Flow 


ers  in  A 


lliillst. 


VMOOTII    CitAI!    (Jl.'Ass     (/ 


(I II  irii III 


the  last,  with   the   spike's  digitate,  tl 


'lliih 


I'll  til)   resembles 


Ills 


raehis  Hat  and  thin,  spikelets  ovoid.      It 


iree  to  lour,  spread- 


is  eommoii 


hi  cultivated  grounds,  waste  places,  and  on  sandy  field 

r^eptember.     A    troublesoi 


owers   in    Auii'ust   and 


Aveed 


i\<;t;i;  (Ikass,  Common  Cijai!  ( 


(/i(iit(i/('\.  —  The    panic  gr 


;ass  (  pit iilcii III 


lie 


KHII- 


commoii  all  (i\-er  the  C()nntr\- 
'I'he    stems  dl'  the    Fiiiu'er  d 
feet    hiuh.  erect. 


isses    are  widely  spread   and 


rass  are  from  one  to  two 


spreading  :   ieav 


I's   and 


leaths  hair\- 


spikes    lour  t..    fifteen:  digitate:   upper -lume  half  tl 
length    of  the    flower  :  I 


le 


uwer  one   small.      It 


waste  or  neglected  eiUtivated  gr.uinds  and  uard 


n'ows  on 


yards,  and  is  geiierallv  re"-arded 


Introduced.     Flowers  f 


ens,  and 
as  a  troublesome  weed. 


roin  August  to  Oetober. 


DoUBLE-HEAOEn     PaNK:     (T 


'(iiitc'iiii.    (iiirrjis)    is   found 


on  the  Wet  pine  barrens  of  \ew  dersev  to  V 


irginia,  and 


Ui 


III 


"r  <\ ^'>!^v^L^^r^::::z: :::;::.  ;r'f'^> 

^''•"'M'    fl""     rn:i^t    ihun     \f.,  I  '  '    ^■•'"""••" 

^  '"^  "I".,  al:;  Mif ;:;::  ;'^;:;;;"';;'-'"V ' 

/•         ^1  .    I    '^  >  >.     I  ariic  arc  din    (,    u       if  .i;,)'  , 

,„,„;,■""'  ■^""-''^■"-  "I'l"-"-!,  i-..c...,v„i,„f„  „„,,.„,,,„„ 

- 'v-r y-^<^ .■"i.-.in  :;;;:":-,::^;t::' 

i'>"""''^''-  i-io-, ^- iH I, „,„]  .  ;■  00  •,'-T";t 

'all  S.M()()t:[   I*\\io  (iii\<^  , /J     • 

■■^ » >.pH„.i„,  H,,.;  o  fi   .  ,"7:7  ^•"■'"""r- 


m 


142 


rOMiMON     MILLKT. 


l! 


Il'l 


pretty  roininniilv  in  moist,  sandy  soils,  especially  at  the 
Soulli  :    lldwcrs  in  Aii-;iist. 

l>nTi:u  Paxic  (Prnii<i/iii  (undrmn)  is  ibinid  on  sandy 
shores.  fVoui  ronnocticut  to  Vir^-inia,  and  further  south. 
Flowcrh  in  Auj;ust  and  Septenilier. 

Broad-lk.wed  Panic  i\\{.\^^  (Pdiiionn  hififvUum).— 
This  is  a  grass  with  a  perennial,  iiljrous  root,  and  stem 
from  one  to  two  feet  liigh  ;  with  leaves  hroad,  long, 
taper-pointed,  sniootli  or  slightly  downy;  branches  of 
jKinicle  spreading:  spikelets  long,  obovate,  downy. 
Flowers  in  June  and  July.  It  is  conuuon  in  moist 
thickets  and  woods.     Of  no  value  for  cultivation. 

TJie  IIii)ni;.\-Ki,o\vi;i;Ki)  i'axic  (Irass  (P((iiic>nii  clan- 
(fcstiinnii)  is  found  in  h.w  thickets,  and  on  the  banks  of 
streams,  from  one  to  three  feet  high,  very  leaty  to  the 
top,  the  joints  naked  :  slieaths  rough,  and  bearing  very 
stiff  and  spreading  bristly  hairs.  Flowers  from  July  to 
J^eptembcr. 

">  KLLow  Panic  (Juass  [Paincmit  JCdhfhophi/sinu) 
grows  on  (by,  sandy  soils,  from  Maine  to  Wisconsin, 
and  northward.  It  is  of  a  yellowi.sh-green  color,  the 
spikelets  downy;  sheaths  hairy  :  leaves  lanceolate, 
acute,  smooth,  except  on  the  margins. 

Sticky  Panic  Gkass  (Paiiivniii  vinculum)  grows 
with  an  uprigJit  stem,  leafy  to  the  top,  densely  velvety, 
downy  all  over,  including  the  sheatlis,  with  reflexed, 
soft,  often  clammy  hairs,  except  a  ring  below  the  joint: 
panicles  spreading:  spikelets  long  and  downy.  Moist 
soils,  from  New  Jersey  to  Virginia,  and  southward. 

Common  Millet  (Faniefnn  miUaretoiD.—Vlowav^  in 
large,  open,  nodding  panicles;  leaves  lance-shaped, 
I'road;  stem  one  to  two  feet  high;  native  of  Turkey. 
It  is  shown  in  Fig.  122. 

Many    varieties    of  millet  have   at  times   been    culti- 


COMMON     MILLET. 


U: 


i 


f'it'.  12-2      (\mimnn  Millet. 


144 


liAlt.N     (il.'ASS. 


ii'ct   Idiig,   ruiigiiisli  :  panicle    (ipi'ii.     Fluwcrs  in  Jnnn 
and  .July. 

PoLV.MOKriiis  rAXic  [PdiucNiii  iHclioloiiimii)  i.s  coni- 
nion  in  all  parts  of  tlu' country,  on  dry  and  low  i^rcunds. 
liowcr  ,i;lnnic  roundish,  onc-tliiid  or  a  (piarlcrtlic  Icn^lli 
(d  the  live  to  sc\"n  ncrxi'd  upper  one. 

\V()i!Till,Kss  iVwh'  {  ruiiliu  III  (f)'j,iiiijn'r((/inin  is  also 
common  northward,  in  Avy  woods  and  hills.  Stems 
simple,  forming  close  tufts,  tei-miuatcd  by  a  sim[)le  and 
lewdlowered  contracted  panicle,  often  ovt'i'topped  by 
the  upper  leaves. 

^^  AKTV  Panic  {Puniviim  rrrnuwiNiii)  is  found  in 
sandy  swam|)s,  near  the  <'oast,  from  New  Kngland  to 
A'irginia,  and  southward.  Steins  hrancdiing  and  slender 
smootli,  one  to  two  leet  high:  leaves  shining;  liranehes 
of  the  diifuse  iiain'(dc'  slender,  lew-llowered  ;  spikelets 
oval,    roughish     with    warts,    dark-green.       Flowers    in 


August. 


I>AI!X  Gl{ASS,or  i>Ai!X-VAl;|)  (Jl.'ASS  [FdliicillU  cru.S-(f(l/li), 

is  very  common.  Its  spikes  are  alternate  and  in  pairs, 
sheaths  smooth,  rachis  hristly  :  stem  from  two  to  four 
feet  high,  stout,  erect,  or  somewhat  procumhent :  Iciivcs 
half  an  inch  hroad  :  panicle  dense,  pyramidal:  glumes 
acute:  awn  variable  in  length,  and  sometimes  wanting: 
outei-  palea  of  the  neutral  flower  usually  awned.  One 
01-  two  varieties  have  rough  or  hi'istly  sheaths.  It 
grows  on  moist,  rich,  or  manured  soils,  and  along  tli(> 
coast  in  ditches.  Flowers  in  August,  September,  and 
October. 

Some  experiments  liave  been  made  to  cultivate  this 
connnon  species  in  the  place  of  millet,  to  cut  for  greem 
fodder.  It  is  I'clished  by  stock,  and  is  very  succulent 
and  luiti-itive,  while  its  yield  is  large. 


"L'X(;.\I!IA.\     (;i!A 


ss, 


1 1. 


I  ,  >-.<i.v;    iiiui      10     lias 

'>een  unMly.e,!.     It   is  ,  I<„fV  plant 


I- IK-  l-Si.     Illiiit;;imii  Qniss. 


I  ll 


IK'iTI.K     (i  If  ASS. 


iiiul  roinaiiis  rrrocn  until  its  s.-cls  i.mtiiiv.  an^l  is  „.) 
•louhf  valual^ic.  lur  i;„l,|,.r,  l.,,tli  o'lvni  aii.l  .liv.  ^rowii,.^ 
and  luatmi.)-  in  alnMit  tlic  san..'  tin..'  as  .•„nnn..n  nn-JIct'' 
From  twiMity-livr  tu  tl,i,|_v  l.nshels  uf  seed  to  the  acre 
liave  been  olitained. 

(i().  Sktaima. 

Spilcolcts  as  in  the  -enus  ranicnm.  awniess,  with 
sK.i-t  pednncK's  ..r  (h.wer-stalks  prodtu-ed  hevond 
them  into  schtary  or  chisten-d  hiisth^s.  Iil<e  a\vii/  In- 
Hoicscence  in  dense,  spik.-d  panich's.  ,„•  eviiiuhical 
spikes.     Annuals. 

The  Hhistlv  Foxtail  (Sctdrln  rvrHrllhit,,)  is  n  j^Tass 
sometimes,  thoii-h  rarely,  loiin.j  ahont  I'arm-lioiiso^  !i 
has  eyiindrieal  spik,>s  two  ..r  tliiv(.  inches  I. .11-  pjije- 
j,n-een,  somewhat  interrupted  with  whoried,  shoiT  ehis- 
ters,  iiristies  sinj>-le  or  in  pairs,  roug-hened  i,r  harl)ed 
downwards,  short. 

IJoTTi.K  (Ji.-Ass,  sometimes  called  Foxtail  (Srffiria 
(flux ra).  — This  is  an  annual,  with  a  stem  from  one  to 
three  feet  high  ;  leaves  hroad,  hairy  at  the  base  :  sheaths 
.smo(.th:  ligulo  bearded;  spike  two  to  three  in.-hcs  I,,ng. 
dense,  cylindrical:  bristles  six  to  eleven  in  a  ehisier.' 
rough  ui)wards;  ])erfect  flower  wrinkled.  The  spike  is 
of  a  tawny  or  dull  orange-yellow,  when  old.  Flowers 
111  .July.  It  is  common  in  cultivated  grouiuKs  and  barn- 
yards.    Introduced. 

The  (JitKKx  Foxtail,  sometimes  als,,  called  Bottlk 
(Jkass  {Sdarla  vlridis),  has  a  cylindrical  spike,  more  or 
less  compound,  green:  bristles  f,>w  in  a,  cluster,  longer 
than  the  spikelets  ;  flower  perfect,  striate  lengthwise 
and  dotted.     It  is  common  in  cultivated  grounds. 

_   The  Bengal  Grass,  sometimes  called  M\LhET  {Setarla 
dcdica),  also  belongs  to  this  ucihh.     It  has  a  compound 


'■^M.A    (;itAss, 


147 


•"•  I".rplisl.      I.nsth^'t,^/    ,'""":'""  ''•"^O-.'llowisl. 

i^i'St-:,;;:!:;:;',:!';.-.!;- '"«.'.iK.v  in /,.1Z 

lirrH',.,    .       „     —"''"'''■"■'""'■■'Hi,,,,- 

■" .-::.:;.,  :::,;;;'"irv''-'-~^''f! ■ 

flH^'upex:  sh.u.s  (all  and  lam.   'l      '%  '     ^".'^  ^^""^''^  '^t 
"'^•••oots:  loav.s  (uoad  a„?flr     '  ^'■'''"  t'"^'^^'.  ^reop. 

^'">..^;  not  on:  t';r '  ^M  :i;;:::t'7";'"'  ^'-^'-^^ 

"■'--  'H.rtor  could  he.  ,.,.own      T  n'^/'  Z""^'''  ^''•J"^" 

7-^^-tld,h,and   JloI^J*]^^^^^ 
f''"so  of  Indian  corn.     Gro^TL  I        ''''^'  "'''''^■^' 

'•-tst.   iro.n   Xow  England  T    .    "'"'?  '"'''^'  ''^^"'-  *'-' 

-"'  ^lonnn.  states,  where  it  is  n^^Z       T^''^'^ 
"tout,  coarse,  and  j.ardy  gniss.  ""'^"^"O"-     Jt  i«  a 


I 


jjlll 


f.  I 


wm^- 


14S 


I'l  Nd  i:i(-si'iK  i;i>    \\()(M)    (iitAss. 


in  ii  |iiuiicle,  and  clot hrd  with  Ion,-,  silky  hairs.     .<taniens 
one  to  three.      (Ji'aiii  iVcc. 

^\'<»ol,LV  I>i;Ai!h  (ii.'A^s  (EriiuitliKs  n/(j/,rci/r<)i(/<'.s)  is 
found  on  the  wet  pine  lianvns  of  \e\v  .leisev,  in 
Illinois,  and  at  the  South.  It  <;-i'ows  from  four  to  six 
feet  Jii^'h:  woollv-hearded  at  the  joints  :  panicle  eon- 
tmeted  :  silky  hairs  lonu'er  than  the  si)ikelets. 

SHuin-AWXKn  Wooi.lv  IJkaim)  ^  Er'nmlliNs  hrn-ihiirhis) 
is  also  I'ound  on  hiw  ouuds,  in  Viru'inia  and  southward. 
.U'rowin.i;-  from  two  to  five  feet  hiuh.  ami  somewhat 
hearded  at  the  upper  joints.      Tanicle  i-ather  open. 


^m^M 


(•4,    AM»l!0|'0(,d\. 

Spikelets   much   the    same  as  in 
the    preeedino-     ^vnus,     hcarin,!;-    ;i 
^U\      "''"^^'''  ""'  ■■^tiiiiiinute   lowei'  (lower: 
ulumes  and   palea'    often  wantin.n"  : 
upper  (lower  pei'feet :   ,u'lumes  awn- 
less:  lowci- paica  awned.      Flowers 
in    pam'eles    and    spikes.        Most    of 
these  o'rasses  ai'e  coarse   and  hard 
perennials.  ha\in<^-    lateral  iw  terni- 
nial    spikes,    commonly     clustered 
,     or   di.Li'itate,    with  the  "rachis  hairv 
/     oi'  ('eathery-licarde(l. 

Fin(;ki{-si>ikki)  \Voon  (Jrass  (,///- 
ih-ojioijoit  J'nrciifKs)  i^rows  about 
lour  (eet  hij^h  :  lea\-es  iicarh- 
smooth:  si)ikes  digitate,  or  general- 
ly liy  threes  and  fours  :  lower 
(lower  awnless;  tin?  spikelets  rou.u'li- 
ish.  downy  :  the  awn  hent.    Flowers 


n^'.  1-.;..  ri;;.  \■z^.  m  Sei)teinl)or.  A  spike  of  this  g-rass 

is  shown  in  V'v^.  124.  a  part  of  it  enlar-cd  in  Fi,u'.  125, 
its  pistil  in  Fi,ii'.  liiO,  its  glumes  in  Fig.  127.  It  is  rnni- 
mon  on  sterile  soils,  roekv  liaiiks.  and  hill-sides. 


I'CHPJj-;   Wood    (;i;\ss     |;,;oo\i    c,..    •       ,    / 
It-'ot  hiuli. 


(■  ,      ,  -•v^iuu,     .SU11(1\-     S 

,'-"Vl"l,,„S,,„..,„,,„,     It  ,™,vs  V,.o,„  ,„..,  ,o  four 


•I  ,  o  ■■will     t  >\  u     (y     Tour 

.  1  ^7f'"'mn.v-bra.K-lK.|  l-anides :  lower  she 

.nft  liairv  ui„„g  tl,e  edges.         '  "'" ^  ''■"■''"'  "S' 

<''"iM-  m  Sopteml.er  an<l  (Vh.l.er. 

M'ons   on    snniliir  soils  to   tl,,>  [...f    n  "'J"'"<'^.) 

t"-o  or  tluve  in  distant  clusters. 


spikes    solt, 


<>;>.  SoKoiiuir. 


M     .1,    p,„y,.l,:  sI„.,„|,ss„10„|Ik  spilcolot.   ii..|,t   l„.„„,, 
.  Jfld  kIossv.  ,  roop  11.' u-lieii  i„,t„,.    .  i    ■  "uiwij 

--<"-.-,.  I Mi„;.e,: ;;,  :r, '.;;:,• ''''''■^''''''^''"-' 


150 


BROOM     CORN. 


Indian  Mili.kt  [Sojy/iioii  rnJij(ire)  is  a  cultivated 
species,  and  has  several  well-marked  varieties.  It  is 
calleil  (Juiiica  corn  in  tla^  West  Indies.  IHidiiira  in  Aia- 
bia,  Jovuree  in  India,  and  Xagara  in  the  nortli  ot  China. 
It  is  sometimes  used  as  a  forage  plant. 

The  tall  cereal,  which  has  long  heen  cultivated  in  the 
south  ol'  Eiii'ope  and  in  J3arliai'y,  under  the  general 
name  of  sorgliiim.  rt'semhles  Indian  corn  in  (juality.and 
is  often  called  siikiII  uniizv.  Its  stems  contain  a  pretty 
large  jjer  cent,  of  saccharine  matter,  and  it  is  useful  to 
cut  green  as  a  forage  })lant. 

Indian  nn'llet,  wIkmi  raised  on  good  soil  and  under 
fiivorahle  circumstances,  is  said  to  yield  a  larger  (pian- 
tity  of  seed  to  the  acr(i  than  any  vither  (.-ereal  gr;iss 
known,  not  exceitting  even  Indian  corn.  Its  nutritive 
quality  is  nearly  e(pial  to  that  of  wlieat.  The  couuiion 
millet  is  the  /KUticNiii  iiith'tictttiii. 

Bkoom  Corn  (Si>r(///iiiit  siirclinrdtKiii)  is  considered  bv 
some  botanists  as  a  \ar;ety  o\'  So,(///kiii  oilifarc:  by 
others,  as  a  distinct  species.  Its  leaves  are  linear: 
ligules  short  and  hairy:  panicle  with  long,  loose,  expand- 
ing branches.  It  is  an  annual,  and  llowers  in  August, 
growing  from  six  to  nine  feet  high.      Native  of  India. 

The  panicles  are  used  I'or  brooms,  and  the  seeils  for 
poultry,  swine,  Ac.  It  i.*  <  xtensively  cultivated  in  nianv 
parts  of  the  cotnitry  along  the  ("ounecticut  Kiver.  in 
Massachusetts,  the  Mohawk,  in  X' w  ^'ork,  and  at  the 
West.  It  is  said  to  have  ln'cn  liist  cultivated  in  this 
couiitiy  by  Dr.  Franklin,  wdio  foun  1  a  seed  on  a  stalk 
ill  the  possession  of  a  lady,  and  [)lai'ted  it. 

("iiiNKsK  Si(;.\ii.('.\M.:.  S()i;(;no,  or  Soi.'raio  SrcijK 
(Sonj/nnii  iihjniiH),  is  a  plant  well  known  throughout  the 
United  States.  It  rises  witli  a  stem  from  six  lo  lifteen 
feet  hiiiji.  acc(>rdi!!g  tofju.  soil  on  wliieh  it  i^'i'ftws.  erect. 


CIIJXKSK    SUGAK-CAxNE.  15^ 

*^mooth;    leaves    linear,    flexiious,    -racefully    curving 


ill! 


Kif.-.  ]- ..     CliiiiL'.-ic  ,-;utr;ir  CiiMJ. 


i 


1  i 


^\^ 


■  I 


ft 


152 


•SUOAIi-CAXK. 


'lou-„  at  the  onrls.  resembling  Indian  ..urn  in  its  earlv 
.^Toutii,  and  l.roon,  con,  lo  whici,  it  is  nearly  alhVd,  at 
...utunty.  Flowers  in  a  paniele  at  the  top,  at  first 
,^Teen  elian-ing  tlirough  the  sliades  of  violet  to  pur- 
l>le,  when  more  advanced.     It  is  seen  in  Fi-    \-2{; 

This  plant  has  lately  been  introdnced  and  used  lor 
torag-e,  and  experiments  have  been  made  with  it  for  the 
manulacturc  of  molasses  or  sirup  and  su-ar 

It  is  rich  in  saechari.ie  m,  ^ter,  and  u  hu-ge  amount  of 
nutruive  lodder  can  be  obtained  frem  it. 
^  It  grows  best  on  a  dry  soil,  and  under  a  hot  sun,  and 
IS  i.sually  planted  in  the  san.e  manner  as  Indian  corn 
both  as  to  preparation  of  ground  and  time  of  planting- 
generally  m  hills  when  it  is  intende<l  to  ripen  its  seed" 
an<l  ...  drdls  when  it  is  wanted  to  cut  up  green  for  soil! 


.ng  pn.^poses,  or  to  cure  and  ieed  out  in  winter  as  a 
lorage  crop. 

Various  opinions  have  been  oppressed,  bv  practical 

a.mers.  as   ,o  the  comparative  value  of  thi^  new  addi- 

«'..  to  our  cultnated   plants,  and   these  opinions  have 

grown"     nnicb  by  the  locality  in  which   it  was 

lb.   cultu,^,   which    was  extensive    in    Xow   England 

l"...:u   M,e  hrst  year  or  two  aft.M-  its  introduction,  has 

iH-en,  to  a  great  extent,  abandoned  there,  while  further 

expenments,   n,    other  sections   ,,f   the    countrv,   have 

I'eenattend.wl  with  greater  satislaetiun 

-rc/.o-./..,  /olcn.  sncrl.,rn,„..  Ar.,  names  which   had 
I'een  previously  ,,ppliod    ,o    another    plant.     It    seen. 

proper  to  yield  t.,  the  prior  clann.  ami  Iprefbr  to  speciiv 
It  as  the  /boiy/ntii/  iiifiru ,ii. 

TI.<.Su^,u,-Can,,,.V,,,,./,,,,.„,„  „/,•,,,„,,,,„,„   ; 
'''"''"''."""""'■ I" tl' »t«m,  „r,™  two  in  hi;  t 


'tSl    9 


Kl"i.i-  two  „1,|„ „:;'';   '^■'■'"""'l. 'oo«.  |„.„i,le,: 

^:r''''-"'''--'=^™"^:™;:::.;:;:i;,.::;: 

towards  the  clo.e  of  fin-   U  f  >"u(lu.n,  >tat..s. 

Tl,  w       •   ■        ''*"*"'^''^""-  -in'l  adjoiiimP'  states 

^tamMK.te  in  tenuinal  paniHes     !     ,  ^    "r''"7''     '''" 
K'ss,  ol.tuse:   t!ie  i.ist  ll^.t,.  .>,.   '"^    i  ,     '  =  P-i'*'- awi,. 

1-1-  ='^vnless  :  IVuit  eun.p';"^!:,;' '  ^'""'^^^  '''->  -^^"^^  ; 


I* 


IIHK 


154 


INDIAN     COIi.V. 


I.MMAN     COHN,     MaIZK     [Zot     lUOf/s),     is     U     tlUG    gTilSS, 

laiuiliar  t(.  everyborly  in  tin's  couiitrv.  iiii<l  by  liir  the 
most  iiiipoitant  and  extensively  cultivated  of  any  plant 
known  to  our  agrieultni-e. 

Tlic  practice  of  sowin.i;'  Indian  corn   in  drills,  for  tlie 
purpose    of  cutting-    up  green   I'or  fodder,  was  reconi- 
ni.'nded  some  years  ago   by  a  i)rogressivo  agricultuiist, 
and.  though  at  first  ridiculed,  it  soun  came  to  l)e  planted 
ill    small    patches    of  a    few    rods   s(piai'e.   bv    piaci  icid 
iarmers  here  and  there,  till  now  it  is  regarded  as  almost 
an   in(lis[)ensable    crop,,  not   only  to   carry  a   stock  of 
cattle  through  a  severe  summer  drought,  when  our  pas- 
tures arc   short  and  dry,  but  to  cut  and  cure   in  large 
•  piantitics  lor  winter  use.     The  weight  and  value  of  an 
acre  of  corn  foTldei-  is  vcrv  lai-gc. 

A  more  extended  notice  of  this  plant  will  be  giveu 
ill  the  next  chapter. 


fill 


m 


CHAPTER    IT. 

THE    ceheama:    oh.    the    .uassks   cultivatei. 

EOJt     Til  El  I!     SEEDS. 

We  have  d^voIftl^,s|:u•  cidelly  upon  M,o  .^^^^^^^^^ 

.    nated  an,    n-,|,I.  uln.h  are  us.d  ro  ,,cate,-  oi.  loss 
■y  M,    as  l,„Hl    „,  stn.k.  eiti.er  in  tl,e  ...ven  and  sure- 

I"     ns  chapter  f  propose  to  speak  brielly  uftl.o  cere.l 
or    he  grasses  wlneh  ai^e  eultivuted  niainlv  on  account 
ot  the  large  s,.e  of  their  iarinaeeous  or  n.Jalv  seeds. 
J  he  Cn-eaha  nnght  properly  he  considered  u  genus 

°       "^^-^^^■'''''•'^-^•''•'•'''^••••-thes^^ 
oMns,,at.se    the  (;.../...,  ,.,,,^ 

on    t  1     e^^,   pon.t  of  vieu'.     The  term  itself  w, 

;    --1    -.nCeres^.lciliedhytheancient^asthel.eau- 
'i-    Koddess  ot  corn,  and  it  includes  a  class  of  plants 
bv  far  the  niost^nuportant  of  any  in  the  kno^vn  wl.rld  ' 
I  he  ;;e.H'aIs  ai-e  all  annuals,  and  tlun-  die  down  alter 

i.av.ng,ulhll..d  their  natural  destiny -the  product! 
-md  npenn.g  of   the.r  seeds,      in  structure  thev  resen- 
Ule  the  grasses  of  wliicli  u-m  I,..,-  >     i        i  .      >-  '  'h 

i.   tiM.v  ,11  I  1     .  '   already  sj.oken  :   that 

■Nthc^    d    have   Ix.llou- stems,  divided  or  closed  at  rhe 

jo.nts,  win  e  Irom  these  joints  start  sheaths  uh,,.h  r." 

claspn.g  the   stems,  hut  open   or  divided  on  on..   Sid; ' 

he  ears  or  heads  of  the  cereals  consist  of  nno.v  How" 

c.s,  arranged  either  in  spikes,  as  in  wheat,  or  panicle. 

-moats,  nee   and  millet.     They  have  th.;e  sJamen;: ' 
llHs  class  of  planls   consists  chielly  of  rice,  wheat. 


n 
was 
u- 


1 .', 


'»(; 


i  < 


""■'--i^Ks,  , ;,,.,■,,. x-okm;in. 


Iiiii 

Wll 


\ 


J^|''H(  a-^.a..,//,vo  is  alonj^  |.anicIorl  grass 

H.,-  when  npc,  so.no  n.s.Hl.la..coto''o;'t!' 
Tilt  seed  M-mun,o.  j,,  ,,  separate  pciieel  sfu-f 
'"^  i'-oiu  the  nutin  stalk.      Karh   1...."'  ^ 


^->n,  rne  „uun  stalk.      Ka.h   kernel  ten. 

-->"anuwn,ancIise,,eluse,linarougl. 
">^   or  s,.ale,  ot  a  yellowish   c.lor.      The 

;tV'''  ^'''\^^'   '-'^^^  ^^  --'-  ^''  that  o^ 
^\  heat,  except  f|,;,tth,.  ioinf.  

Ol 


FlL-.    IJ'I. 


.,.,„.„ "'\^'    "^■»-'  ^^  «"'Hlar  to  that  of 

;    -  /  '^"nnnal.an.l  rises  to  the  height  of 
'';;■--- i-t,ueeonling  to  thovrrie^ 
^     ;;"  -I  -y-     a  stalk  of  rice,  with  is 
l''^''"'  p^iMiHo,  IS  shown  hi  Fio-   i-K) 

/;"••'-""■'''    '^   '•"•npns,.d.  to  aV<'at" extent 

;:^: :■••''' f';'-- i-.ativ5y.n;n ;: 

-*-"  :',^e  ot  g]„t,M,,  which  forms  a  large    pro 
l--t'on  of  good  wheat-llonr.      The  ^ee 
--n.   ed  with  a  husk,  whieh  is  SO  dit,: 

"'■•'to,    as  to  be, li/Henlt  of  separation. 
>  ••'"Hne.l  Uy  passing  through  nnll-stones, 

,;''";^"-"g'i'  apart  to  pn.vent  crushing  the 
r7'-  ''"V-""''-"t'.v  near  to  ren.ove  the 
'"i^Is-s  or  chaff  hvfri.'tion 

'^"v.  .loul.tlcss,  originate.!  in  Asia,  where 
t   '>   '<noun   to  have  heen  extensively  user! 

;;;'-.yages^  and  where., Von,   the  Earliest 
^^^"'■>   ol^yhu•h  ^vo  hnve   any   record,  it   has 

;;;;'-;^    J-ehiefandn.ostin.portantfbodof 

'-  '"'"'^'"tants.    It  is  also  at  the  present  time 

- -'y  produced. nKgypt,  and  fln-n.s  an  i!:: 

jy^'ncartiele  of  commerce,  and  a  produc- 

fvc;  source  of  wealth.     The  facilities   br        . 

Katnmallordedhvthe     Rivcr  Xile    make 


'  ''.TlifK.       \  .\i;ii;tiks. 


■  >( 


'J'li 


I.IK  S      l.s     ,,|     III,),    (.|.|,      ,   ,,i.  r. 

;7""'!  t'"""""  'i- u  is \^h  1    ,. ;™'-'''  •;■ 

tlie   close   of  tlie   ^..vc.f.w.nfl         '-''''"''.-'-' 'H    <<'uar.]s 

;v';rdr:;;:  ?-•'" -- 

(^•^ '    iii.iij   Ml   riic   conn  i-i,>s  w  i..i-<.   u  , 

'.'J::i:i;;:™:r:::;t:t,,r;;-,'::;;c"'--' • 

""' •••""•"OM  rice  requires  lor  its  successful   cultiv, 
^^  "H.     It  .nay  be  considered  as  ahnost  an  anuatic  n|.„  r 

.i.ur  .s    mailer,  and  comes  to  nmturify  earlier    .n,! 
^^'11  gvnerally  r,,,eu  i„  about  four  months-  .\m  i  , 
'"<""-ice  requires  six  months  "'""^''^'  ^^I^''^'  con>- 

Mountain  rice  will  succeed  Avith  less  moisture      T  ..,„ 
no    ajvareth^^ 

t^Afoiir,  m  tills  country. 
14 


i,T^; 


IwS 


iMcK    (  ri.rri! 


—  WHKAT. 


Cliiiniiiy  rice  will  grow  Ixitli  on  swamps  and  uplands. 

Rico  is  generally  sown  in  drills,  into  wliidi  it  is 
dro}iped  bv  Iiand  :  after  which  the  watcM-  is  let,  on  lor 
several  day>.  to  the  (lei»th  of  some  inches,  when  it  is 
rt'uioNi'd  till  the  I'ice  has  sprouted  and  g-rown  to  the 
heigh.;  of  fiKMi  two  to  four  inches.  The  water  is  then 
again  let  uii,  and  sull'ered  to  remain  for  some  days. 
This  destroys  the  grass  and  wi'eds,  if  any.  Allor  this 
it  is  uccasionallv  hoed  and  cultivated,  to  keej)  it  free 
from  weeds. 

'I'he  harvest  commences  generally  in  August,  and 
continues  through  Septemher  :  and  it  is  gen(M-ally  cut 
with  sickles,  and  gathercfl  up  into  handles. 

Rice  is  very  extensively  cultivate(l  in  China  and  in 
India,  and  along  the  liiver  Po,  in  Lomhanly.  Jt  is  prob- 
ably used  as  human  food  by  a  larger  number  than  any 
other  cereal  grain. 

Wheat. 

Wheat  {TriflvKin  i-uhjarc)  is  an  annual  herbaceous 
plant,  of  many  varieties,  all  arising,  probably,  from  the 
same  parent,  but  modified  by  varieties  of  climate,  soil, 
and  culture. 

Wheat  possesses,  of  course,  tlie  same  general  charac- 
teristics as  the  rest  of  the  graminea\  The  seed  is  ob- 
long, or  a  compressed  oval,  surrounded  by  scales  or 
cliatf,  which  are  easily  removed.  That  side  of  the  ker- 
nel or  fruit  whicli  was  next  to  the  rachis  in  growing  is 
marked  by  a  deep  groove  separating  the  mealy  parts  in 
the  middle.  On  the  other  side  a  small  oval  is  seen.  This 
IS  the  seat  of  the  embryo,  or  place  where  the  germ  of 
the  new  plant  is  to  take  its  start.  This  is  also  the  point 
of  attachment  of  the  pedicel  on  which  the  kernel  grew, 
and  through  which  it  derived  all  its  growth  and  nour- 
ishment.    On  arriving  at  maturity  a  detachment  takes 


MODI-;     (IF     (JROWTH. 


l')!» 


pliico  lit  this  point,  and  it  rioses  u|,  so  as  to  loave  tlic 
scc.l  r,v(>  m  its  pales  ur  hnsks,  Ih.n.  which  it  is  easily 
sepaialcil. 

The  stalk  or  stem  and  leaves  oi"  the  wheat  plant,  as 
indeed  of  all  the  eercalia  or  -n.j.)  plants.  dJir,.,-  f,-,,,,, 
th.'  other  grasses  in  enntainino-  „  nui<-h  greater  amount 
<)l  w.x.dy  fihre.  often  amounting,  when  rit)e.  to  three- 
I.Mirths  ol  th.-  whole  uvight.  It  is  largelv  .•omp,.sed 
;>1  ."^liex,  ii  hard,  llnity  snl.stanc..,  which  gives  the  sieni 
Its  finnness  and  solidity,  an.l  especially  its  hard  and 
glossy  outside  coatiiiii'. 

Were  it  not  tor  this  hard  .-teni. 

it  could  not  support  its  weight  of 
™w  '""•■'■■^  01"  W'fiiiii.  It  Would  lodge  in 
Tmk  *'^'cry  wind,  and  lie  coinparativelv 

"■ortliless. 

\|''i|||j|'  '''I't-  t'nltivate<l  i)lants  belonging- 
M^  ^'^  ^'"'  ■'-^'*'""''  'J^>'>H^'iiin  iire  annu- 
'''iSfe  '^''''  ^''^'  ''''"''■•-'  'ii'L!  wild  perennial 

x'Mffi^  g'I'ilsses. 

'I       The  root  of  wheat  i~  peculiarly 

^   __^  ada.pted  to  withstand  the  sevei'ity 

'HIW  ^**^'."'  ^^'"f'-'''"^  *'oliJ-    The  inain  or 
seminal  root  is  pushe(l  out  at  the 

jm  "'^^^  ^'"'^'  ^^''^''  ^'"'  .-^'''"'"'"^  'liJit 

^MmJ  "f"'"''''''"'^   the   ])lant   in    its   early 
'WfA    y^'''*wtl'-     As  many  as  seventy-two 
;f    stalks   liave   been   known   to   rise 
from  a  single  root. 

The    grain    is    composed    to    a 
f?reat    extent    of    starch,    Avith    a 
v\l\:n.  large    percentage    of   gluten    and 
other  nitrogenous  bodies. 
The  two    prominent  and  most  striking  varietie.-^  of 


V\\i.  130. 
IIuiiKurian  Wheat 


ICO 


>VINTKff     AM)    SI- 1(1 


.N<i     W  iu;.\  r 


wliC'iU    iirc    kiiowi 


^pnii;^'  'I'ritliHiu  ,(..st 


I  as  winter    '/V/V 


ii-ii  lit 


Injh 


\\ 


If  1 1  III. 


iiii«'i-   wlicat    lia<    uviiciall 


<'iir.  >iiiui)tli   ;"ii|   jiwiil 


y   II    larger 


iiinre   cMvct   >i,.|ii.       It    i 
ji'friiiiiiatu.s,  i-oniuiuin 


i's.-<,  .■iiKl   a    -(r..|,ov|..  ||.,,.|| 


xriniiii,  and 


iiii'l    |iMuiiiicr 


tT.  and 


^   sown    in    antunin,   and 


ii't'i'u  tliron,i:ii   tl 
;<"'«'"is    growth    carlv    tl 


start  in-    up    into  a    vi. 
spiin-.  aiTivin-  at   niatniity  in   tiir   ( 
Sonic  ol    the  vuriotics  of  winter  wl 
Fiji's.  i;;()  and  l;{|. 


>oon 
L'  wintoi',   and 


H!    next 


"llowin^'  siinnniM'. 
K'at   arc  sliowii  in 


Tl 


"TO  are  mans   suh-varielies  nf  winter  wl 


ongiiiuted,|ir..l,al.h-,  Croni  inii 


cultui'e. 


icat.  wincli 
lenees  of  loralil\ ,  soil. and 


tl 


"•  '\\»'  prominent  ,uTonj)s  are  l)e:t"  k 


le  red  and  white  wheats.    '|'| 


nowii  a: 


ardy.  and  is  covered  with  a  tl 


a'  ivd  is  n>iiall\  tl 


le  more 


iii.u.  which   a.Iapts  it   hotter  to   hi-h   iiorti 


i"-ker  and   roiiLiher  coat- 


iind  severe  winter; 


iL'rn    lalitiides. 


Tl 


o    iinioniit   of  ,L:lntiiioiis   and   sili 


(iTiin)  is  said  to  he  -realest  in  the  red.  and  I 
white,  while  it  is  medium  in  tim  ami 


Clous    siihstaiices 
I'ast  in  tlio 


)er, 


.Spring- wheat  is  less  liardv  than  winter :  tl 


le    stem  ir 

a'  oar  smaller  and  thinner 


more  slender  and  delicate,  tl 
and  rather  more  drooi3ing,  and  adorned  with  I 
or  beards.     It  produces,  ordinarily,  less  than  tl 
wheat,  while  the  (piality  of  its   || 


o\v^  awns 

le  winter 

()ur  is  less  esteemed  : 


I)ut  still  it  often  hecoines  prohtahle  for  cultivat 
is  H  vaiiiahle  viiriet\-. 

Le  Couteur  makes  the  foil 


ion,  aiii 


eiidl( 


summer  and  winter  wheats  I 


owino'  classihcation  of  tl 


le 


■ss  varieties  and  suh-varieties  into  which  botli  thi 


lave  passed. 


BEAKDLKSS    Ul!    WLNTKH    WHKATS. 

1    ^Vjiite  Wjiciils,  .siiiootli  ciialfed. 
-       "  "        M'lvet  iiusked. 

•''  Rf'l  "        smootli  cimtfal. 


V  A  i;ii;tii:> 


"I'     win:  AT. 


f)  Vi'llow 


/    l/lvir 


^"■l\''t  liii>k,.,|. 
Miiiootli  I'haHoil. 

Vclvft   llll>.|v|..|. 

"iriiMitli  oli.itlcil. 
W'iNCt  liii-kol. 


iti:Ai;i)i;ii  i>u  si'i;i.\ 


'■'    WIIKATS. 


I    Wliii,.  Spriiiu'  Wheat 
-   Iti'il  S|,iiii-  Wliciit. 
'■'■   Vcllinv  S|.iiii}r  Wlicit. 
I    ll(iiii;v  Sprin^r  \V| 


ICM' 


Amuim'   lilt 


lit'C'ii  cuItivatcMl   t 


vtin'ctics   of  wiuf  !• 


Miiy  extent   i  I   \]i\! 


wll.'u       wliich     lijivo 


iiienti()iic<l  tlic  c.iiiiiiK.ii    Wiiito  i' 
Flint,  the   Whifr    I' 


<-•"   iKiy  iiiiiv  1)0 
i.t    iiii:    (ivcd   White 


n.venre  \VlH,,f.  ...  WlieiithuHJ  l{e.| 
H'      ..s.-M,.  l.aM.  the  Skinner  Wheut,  the  Cuhh-n  fho,. 


tlie    White    nine    St 


I'aw.  known   in   Oh 


nt    ;is    tl 


lil 


111! 


I  -t.  the  >e:,nle,l  Mediterranean,  OhI  White  Flint,  the 
rnh  the  (.n.esee.  tiK.  F,vptian.  the  Old  KVd  Chair 
rile   (^lalcer  Wheat,  the  V   "" 


Hed.  the    IJald  Mediterra 
innnnieralihi  other; 


11"\\-  Hoiirdod,  the  Kentnekv 
'"•'I'l.  the   Red  nine  Stem,  and 


Anioiii:-    th 


I'   sprni^'  varieiies    nia 


Italian   Spring-   Wheat.  Tea    Wl 


.V  iie   mentioned  the 


ck   Sea    Wheat     Bla.-k   IJearded  an.l    Re.l    JJeurd 
H  heats,  the  Seoteh  Wheat,  Talavera  Whe 
loa  Wheat,  the  Canada  Cluh,  the  File   cte, 


ii'at,  or  Siherian  Wheat, 

ed 
lieat.  the   Black 


All 


'II 


le  litiaiv 


inetios  may  he  easily  niodihod   bv  cnit 


led 


may  l)oeome  I.eardI 


"•i'«l  may  pass  into  the  whit 


i  vat  ion. 
ess,  and  vice  versa  :  the 


ea: 


*ily  inodih(>d  so  us  finallv  to  i 


0  varieties,  and  thi"  wint 


er  IS 


vanetv  know 


•■come  a  sprino-  wheat. 


■sjjcltci),  is  sJDwn  in  ]■ 
f^liowu  in  Fi„,   133    J,. 

one-seeded  wheat  (J^riti 
<'<irn,  in  Fjo-.  135 

14* 


a>*  spelt,  or  spelt   wheat  { TrificuM 


iff.  132.  Avhil 


e  a  snnimei-  \  ai-ietv  h 


■yptian   wheat   in    Fi-'.    l;]4.  and 
'cfm  monoeovvnm),  or  St.  Peter's 


liii 


111 


Tl-^V. 


1(52 


s'U.MMKj;    win; ATS. 


As   already  intiniate.],  wheat   is  composed  chiefly  of 
starch,   the    l.e|■cel,ta,^e    o»'  which    varies    lioni   h'l'tv    to 

s<^veiity  y.cv  cent.  :  of  gluten, 
the  I'erceiita-eofwhicli  varies 
fVoin  ten  to  twenty:  and  of 
ii'oni  thiee  to  iivo  percent,  of 
fatty  matters.  The  best  flour 
contains,  tliereforc,  .seventv 
pounds  of  starch,  or  upwards, 
in  every  huiidnMl  poiuids,  and 
the  balance  is  nuide  up  oi'glii- 


h\'.   \.\ 


FiV.  l^l'i 


CULTn.'K.— I!Aj;j,KY. 


163 


c  Ml  u  hcMt-grown.g  .sections  of  the  country. 
I>\f(i.i:v. 

"  ;"  I-     Its  amount  „(  stnivl,   i.  „1„„„  tlio  .  „„o  ,,  ,  " 

--■■  a  .„.   s..vo,.al    PCM-  oon,.,   „,,,i„a,-ilv    Iron,  liiZ 
•■'!^<.  ../  a,„„,„l,i„o.l  sa,.ol,a,-i,„,  ,nalt,.,-  ' 

-::::;ir,::;t:;::;;:.-;ri:'":;i---^ 


fr 


164 


niiUMX     OF     p.  AKI.KV 


t  f 


the  barleycorn  ot  the  old  linear  iiicusurc.     TIh-  iiveraj;-o 
■VV('i'>-lit  Dei'  Itusliel  is  lielweeii  iirtN-aiid  tili\-iiiie  [)()un(l.-.. 

The  native  (•(niiitry  of  liailey  is  as  unknown  as  that 
of  whoat.  There  is  a  tradition  aniung  the  Hgyi)tians 
that  harley  was  tlie  hrst  grain  used  by  mankind,  and 
tliey  traee  its  intnxhietion,  as  a.  cultivated  |)lant,  to  tlie 
goddess  Isis.  It  was  ciiUivated  in  Syi'ia  more  than  three 
thousand  years  ago:  for  we  read  that  Ruth  gleaned  in 
the  held  till  evening,  and  beat  out  what  she  had,  and  it 
was  about  an  e[)hali  of  liarley,  and  she  gleaned  till  the 
end  of  the  barley  harvest. 

The  u'rasses  I'eferred  b\- l)otanists  to  the  same  genus  as 
barley  have  a  strong  outward  resemblance  to  it:  but 
none  of  them,  by  any  degree  of '•u!tur(\  can  be  improved 
so  as  to  bi'  of  service  as  food,  so  that  they  give  no  in- 
dication as  to  the  origin  of  the  grain  in  (jnestion:  ar.d 
as  we  know  it  to  have  Ixmmi  usecl  in  Syria  from  a  very 
remote  an(i(iiiity.  it  is  natural  to  iider  that  it  originated 
in  that  country.  There  are  four  distinct  species  of 
barley,  and  from  these  have  arisen  a  great  numtier  ot 
varieties. 

Th(>  common  liarley,  or  the  Hordnnii  n/l(/iir(',  Fig. 
VM\.  is  a  spring  s})ecies,  and  this  is  the  kind  most 
connnonly  cultivated.  It  is  six-rowed,  the  rows  being 
slightly  irregular,  the  interm(Hliat(>  ones  being  a  little 
the  most  prominent.  This  is  extensively  cultivated  in 
Germany.  It  has  pass(M|  into  a  six  regular  rowe(l 
variety,  which  is  a  winter  grain  of  a  somewhat  sliort(M- 
ear,  and  shells  moi-e  easily  when  ripe,  endures  more 
severe  colds,  and  may  be  cultivated  as  a  winter  variet^■. 
It  is  shown  in  Fig.  IMT. 

'I'wo-HowED  V> \\\]j:y  { II(>i(/euiu  ilist'iclnoii).  Fig.  IHS. 
is  sometimes  cultivated  in  this  country,  its  spike,  or 
ear,  is  long  and  somewhal  compressed,  and  the  grain  is 
of  a  very  good  (|Uality.      It  is  sown  in  spring. 


Sl.\-KOWhD     BAULKY. 


KJo 


Tliere   is  al-^o  the  true  Avinter  barley,   the    Hordeuin 
lK'xantu:i(iii,  (irsiiiiarr  barley,  and  the  Hordeiuiizeocritou, 


as 


1    1 


V\\:.  l:ii;.      Cniniiinii  IMrl.'v 


l-'if.  1:17 


m 


166 


^'  h 


j 

■^  .\\ 

, 

.      ,| 

tl 


Fi-.  i:!S, 
rciwi'd  r>;i 

lesi-   SI 


(iliOWTH    OF    liAIM.EV. 

<»•  sprat    harley.      A   l.eanlless  varietv.  the 

Ilonleum    Irt/'u rmtnu,,    is    ais..    kn,,wn    to 

,  f-oiiio  extent,  hut  possesses   no  H<lvaMta..>-s 

.for  cultivation,  that  I  an.  aware  ot;  over  the 

more  comniou  varieties. 

Jiiirley    is    probably    enltivated    over    a 
wider  range  of  eliumte  and    latitude    than 
any    othei'    eereal.       In    warm   climates    it 
,l)asses  tlirough  'ts  various   phases  of  vege- 
tation with  asto.  ishing   rapi(.ity,   so  as  to 
eseape    the    droughts    of  sunnner:  and  in 
col. I  climates  its  growth  is  even  more  ra{)id, 
coming  to   maturity    l.elbre    the   frosts  of 
autumn.       LinnaMis    found    it    growing    in 
jfiulean   Lapland,  in  latitude  07''  20',  where 
Ithe   harvest   began   on  the   28th  July,  the 
seed  liav.'iig  been  sown  oulv  six  weeks. 

In  the  ^varmer  clim;<te  of  Spain,  two 
crops  uiay  lie  taken  from  the  same  gri.und, 
by  sowing  in  autumn  and  the  following 
summer.  In  this  respect,  therefore.  i»arlev 
has  the  advantage  of  being  more  important 
to  iiiaidvind  than  even  wheat. 

Harley  succci-ds  best  in  soils  of  medium 
consistency,  but  accouuuodatt's  itself  to 
almost  oveiy  ai'iety  of  soil,  except  verv 
moist  ones.  Ir  endures  a  drought  Itetter 
than  excessive  moisture,  but  it  i('(|iiir('s  as 
deep  and  gooil  tillage  as  wheat,  and  ma\ 
lake  the  same  place  in  the  iiitation  as 
winter  wheat  or  lye.  It  takes  from  the 
soil  a  largiM-  percentage  of  nu'neral  sub- 
stances, as  jiotasii,  linu!,  magnesia,  j)hos- 
.  ]ihoric  acid,  ^c,  th.m  wheat  or  rye,  and 
-tanccs   r-luiuld,  in   some  loiin.  be    rt'storerl  to 


USES    OK     l!.\  IM,  KV.  107 

the  suil  that  is  repeatedly  ciopped  with  l)ariey.  Liijiiid 
maiiui-es  are  extensively  usetl  for  it  in  Flanders,  and 
they  promote  it.s  rapidity  of  vegetation  ;  but  too  .stimu- 
lating animal  niaiiures  cause  it  to  run  too  mucii  to 
stalk. 

"  When  till'  oiik  puts  on  hi.-,  j^osling  f;my, 
'Tis  tiniL'  to  sow  barley  night  iiiid  day," 

is  an  i)U\  maxim,  han<led  down  to  the  Norfolk  farmers, 
fiiim  which  it  appears  that  experience  had  shown  the 
lirst  l)U(ldii:g  of  the  oak,  previous  to  the  expansion  of 
its  leaves,  as  the  best  time  to  sow  this  grain.  The  most 
extensive  use  of  barley  at  the  present  time  is  for  brew- 
ing and  distilling,  a  use  of  it  which  dates  back  to  the 
remotest  tuitiquity,  and  which  is  said  to  be  due  to  the 
monks. 

The  'oest  and  heaviest  grain  is  desirable.  The  com- 
position of  barley  ami  the  malt  made  from  it  are  essen- 
tially dilferent.  and  may  i)e  stated  as  fohows  : 

'i'liiy-  Mrtit. 

Gititun,    ....:! ■[ 

Sugar,     ....    4 k; 

Gum, .■, 14 

Starch,    ...      88 r,f» 

The  quantity  of  barley  annually  consume<l  for  brew- 
ing in  Great  Britain  v\ri'v(U  thirty  nn'llions  of  Inisliels, 
and  irom  this  more  than  eight  millions  of  barrels  of' 
beer  tire  yearly  brewed. 

Barley  is  extensively  used  in  eastein  countries  as 
food  i'or  horses,  but  lias  never  gained  so  great  fiivor  in 
•ooler  latitudes.     It  is  a  less  heating  feed  than  the  oat. 

Barley  ought  to  be  reaped  before  it  becomes  de  id 
ripe.  In  this  state  the  liu.sk  is  thick,  making  it  more 
diflicult  grinding.  The  ai)|)roaching  period  of  ripeness 
is  indicated  by  the  yellowness  of  the  straw  and  tiie 
drooping  o|'  the  heails. 


ii 


5 


I!    II 


168 


KViv      -  CHAltACTKlMSTICS. 


'parley  contains,  on  an  avc-rage,  about  sixty-live  ,,.,■ 
^-ent.  of  nutr.t.ve  nmtter,  uhil.  whe.t  contains  ahont 
seventy-e.^I.t  per  cent.  Aeconlino.  ru  ti.e  elaborate 
-Ijernuents  ot  Tl.aer.  the  con.,a.-ative  value  of  wl   :^ 

:'';^  :;r'  ^''^  ;;^'- *7^''''^  '^^-l^.  "-y  I-  represented 
'na        n'    "'"     -t'  1"'^'"^  ti-    -ne   .p.u.titv  of  e:..].. 

I.e^o.l  on  wl,  eh  these  grains  are  cuh.v.ted  has  an 
doubt,  nuuh  t(,  ,lu  with  their  c,.j 


'Ui[)ositioii. 


RVE. 


is].!l!l'  ':^f"%'--f''!   i^^   -i<l   to    be   a   native  of  the 
wS:ndba;t.     '^   '-^   ^''-^  --mediate  between 
The  general   eharnotcristi.s  have   been  stated   in  the 
pn;ro..n.o:  chapter.      It  is   ^o  ..uly  allied  to  the  genus 
Jnt>r.>,,  that  ,t  ..  not  always  easHy  distinguished  tVon, 
-^      I  here  are   Im-r  prominoni  species,  known  to   beta- 
iHsts  as  Sa-nf.  nlh,,>nu,  or  tuited    rye- :   ^Scrah-  onndak 
o.dwarl   onental    rve  :  ^a,/.  or//.vo.,  or  Cretan  rve' 
and  .^r../c  crcnio:  the  hist  beuig  ihe  only  one  cultivated 
111  th:-  fountry  Ibi-  its  seeds. 

It  is  eharacterixed  by  ]ong-i,eanled  spikes,  or  ears,  and 
a  tall  and  swndcr  stem.  The  glunu>.  of  the  calvx  are 
toothed  on  I  he  edges:  the  root  is  Hbrous  and  a"nnual  • 
the  stem,, on. ted.  somewhat  branched  at  the  bottom  and 
smooth  The  spike  is  terminal,  solitarv,  erect, 'and 
otteu  three  or  four  inches  long:  the  awns  straight 
••nn.uh.  (Mvct.  an,I  four  or  hvc  times  \\n^  len-th  oflhj 
glumes.     11i,>  plant  is  shown  in  Fiu'.  l.SO. 

<)!•  this  there  are  two  prominent  varieties,  known  to 
farmer.,  as  winter  and  spring  rye.  and  .]m^  to  culture 
mainly. 

The  va.icty  most  connuonly  cultivated,  and  which  is 
.^presented  ,n  the  li^rure.  is  known  as  winter  rve :  and 
this  ,s  t..  be  preferred,  whether  it  i.  sown   thr  the  -rain 


l'('I/IUI!K     OK     ifVK. 


'  n 


169 


t.o  srn.v.  Its  characters  as  a  vanetvar.  so  littl. 
.'.Ne.l  tl,at  ,  ,nay  be  sown  at  almost  any'season  ul  the 
•V''"''^^'f''f''^'l'opeof^.ettin..acrop,  in 
nioi.ropcr  season  for  it,  either  of  o-rain 
«)>■  ,i;'roen  fodder.  It  is  far  less  sensitive 
to  the  cold  of  winter  tlian  wheat,  whih- 
■t;^  vegetation  is  more  rapid,  so  that  in 
I'ljrh  northern  latitudes  it  is  often  a 
UK'ie  important  crop. 

,  '''''^''•"Itivationofryedoesnotesson- 

ti'dly  diin.r  from  the  other  grains.     It  is 

nsmilly  sou-n   broadcast   on  a  well-culti- 

viited    sod,  hut  will   succeed   on   lighter 

sods   than  wheat,  and  does   not    recpiire         ^^ 

•^o    much    moisture    as   either   rvheat  or 

txirley.      Win  at.  in  particMdar,  nmst  have 

a  rons.derabie  mixtun*  of  chiv,  or  what 

^vould    be   called  a.   elay  loan.;  or  a   clav 

subsod.  to  arrive  at  its  full  perf.-ction  a"s 
"  ><-">mK.r,.(ive  crop.  I,  succeeds  ad- 
""^''''l.V  «•"  tin.  ca!care(uis  s„i|s  „f  the 
western  prairies.  Um  rye  re.piires  less 
moisture  than  wheat,  and  will  do  very 
well  on  light,  sandy  loams,  and  in  a 
comparatively  diy  season. 

'I"he  grain  or, 
iu    sixe 


M 


kernel  of  I've  is 
than    that   ol' 


smaller 
wheat.  It  tillers 
"uieh  less  Hi  growing,  and  its  straw  or 
stem,  when  ripe,  is  v,mv  ;  id.  in  silica  • 
'"<^'-^' .-o  than  that  of  wheat,  whih.  it  con- 

'••-■•-^i    pl.oX  andXt^:^'! 

r;;;;;:;;;-n.rc.  to  be  highly  in,.rtant't 


rii.'.  l:;!i. 


niiiccd.  tiiev  a 


''■  liir  all  the  cereals. 
If) 


;!'ii ' 


i  in 

it 


i  '. 


170 


(T  I.TUKK.  — 1}\-  A  l,irii;s. 


f      ti 


'hi 

f 

j  . 
■ 

\  :i 

1             ! 

liyr  stiiiw,  ili(.u-li   of  little    value    I'or   i\uU\cv,   is   in 
great  (Icniaiid  lor  litter,  aii.l  lor  various  iiieeliaiiical  pur- 
lM)ses,  and  (•oiumamls  a  Jiigli  price,  vaiyiny  in  the  iJus- 
toii  market   Iroiii  ten  to  filteen  dollars  a  ton.      IJut  it  is 
iis  a   fodder-plant,  and   particnlarly   i'or  soiling  in  earlv 
spring,  that  it  is  now  extensively  used  ainl  highly  prized. 
For  this  purpose  it  is  sown  in  the  autuiuu,  th<">   earlier 
the  better,  after  other  crops  come  from  the  giound.  and 
in  early  spring  it  starts  up  luxuriantly,  and  is  h'l  to  he 
fed  olf  hy  shee])  and  lambs,  or  to  cuiat  the  height  of 
six  inches.      At  this  stage  of  its   -rowth,  and   before  it 
begms  to  spindle,  it  is  succulent  and  nutritious  :   but,  as 
soon  as  this  period  of  its  -rowth  is  reached,  it  loses'its 
succulent  .pudities,  and  is  no  longer  relished  by  stock. 

Hye  has  sometimes  been  parched  and  ground  as  a 
substitute  for  collee;  but  it  wants  the  griiteful  aroma 
and  the  stinmlating  properties  of  the  ihv,)rite  Mocha 
bean,  and  it  can  hardly  come  into  gcnei'al  use. 

b*\e  sown  with  wheat  produces  a  mixed  crop  known 
as  ntc^/iN,  which  I'orms  one  of  the  healthiest  kinds  of 
bread  that  it  is  possible  to  make,  and  practical  millers 
much  [.refer  wheat  and  rye  gro^vn  together  to  anv  mix- 
tuie  ot  the  two  that  have  been  -rowu  separately.'  The 
'■nuiparative  value  of  wheat  and  rve  is  about  as  71  to 
<i^.  according  to  the  most  accurate  experiments  and 
analyses. 

I>nt  rye  may  be  cultivate.1  hunger  on  the  same  soil 
•liau  almost  any  other  crop  of  the  tkrm.  This  is  a  fict 
winch  has  often  been  noticed  by  practical  farmers. 

Rye  contains  a  large  i.er  cent,  of  o-luten,  larger  than 
any  of  the  cereals  except  wheat,  while  about  live  per 
cent,  of  it  consists  of  ready-formed  saccharine  matter, 
which  makes  it  easily  converted  into  malt,  and  so  into 
beer  and  other  spirits,  particularlv  that  known  as  •■  Hol- 
lands,'  which  is  distilled   from   rve.  (lavon.,!  with    iuni- 


KIMJO'I-, — OATS. 


171 


per,  the  Dutrl,  inr  winrh  i>  (n>,ccn;  Irom  which  con.es 

(xt'incu,  roiitraclcd  in  (Hi,. 

live  is  suhject  t,.  u  i;,iul  ,li.M.;,se,  l<n„\vi,  as  er-ot  • 
au.l  when  attacked  with  it  is  ulteii  called  spurred  nv 
Jt  IS  must  destructive  in  wet  seasons,  and  is  eon.inonlv 
ascrii.ed  to  a  lunoous  or„u-tlu  th(>  iH.isenons  ellect^  .^V 
winch  when  taken  into  the  system  of  either  men  o.^ 
annuals,  were  ..hserved  as  earlv  as  MOfJ.  It  is  ibrtu- 
Kately,  m.t  very  prevalent  in  this  c,„nitrv.  hut'  some- 
times develops  itself  in  rye.  as  well  as  h/seM.c  uf  th.- 
ntlH.r  -rasses.  as  .In.ie  glass  mid  reed  canary  grass,  and 
ni  some  other  species. 

Oats. 
The  Oat  {Arena  .safira)  derives  its  English  name  IVu.n 
a  .Saxon  word  sig.dtying  to  eat :  while  its  generic  name 
avena   corner  from  u  I.atin  won),  signifvino.  t„   desire' 
from  the  tliet  that  cattle  are  fond  of  it. 

This   plant   differs  considerably,  in  appearance,  from 
either    wheat,   rye.   or  l.arley.       It    grows    in    panicles, 
the  calyx    heing  twc.-valved   <.r  tw,.-seeded  :  the  seeds 
-i.M.oth,   and    one-awj.ed:    the    root    annual:    the   stem 
growing  from  two  to  three  feet  high.    The  two  glumes 
or  the  chaff  of  the   ,.alyx.   are   nerved,  pointed  at   thj 
end.  longer   than  tlu,  flower,  and  nncpial.      The    two 
Howers  and  see.ls  in  each  calyx  are  alternate,  conical  in 
shape  :  the  smaller  awnless,  the  larg,.r  Ihrnished  with  a 
strong,  Lent  awn.  of  two  colors.     The  branches  of  the 
panicle  are  erect  when  green,  but   droop  as  the   see.l 
npens.  from  its  weight. 

The  only  species  cultivat,H]  for  its  seeds,  the  am.n 
^i"n;>.  has  passed  into  many  varieties,  such  as  the  J'..- 
^o  Oat,  the  Siberian,  the  Tartarian,  the  I>oland.  the 
White,  the  Black,  the  riorse-mane  Oat.  A-c  Tho  first  is 
"ndonbte<lly  one   of    !i     very  bc^t    of  these  varieties 


1 


1 


12 


vai{ii;tii:,s.  — ci;i.i  i  iti;. 


K  j  ;:f| 


<•'  'Hcl,  tl.nu;;lM^,...iui.v.s  a  snnH.wh.r  ,irhor  soil  tlum 

~  ntl,,.,'  ..iiirtiVs.  It  was  lonii.l 
K'<)\vi:i-  acci(K'iitally  in  a  lKa|. 
of  iiiaiiuro  witli  s.»ii,o  potato- 
flants.  and   liciicu  its  odd   ;„,,.. 

'f^gTiiiiiislurguuiulpliiiai).  ''''"' 
t-'oimnuii  out  is  seen  in  Fig.  1  (o. 
Fur  p(„)r  lands,  tlic  Tartarian 
or  the  Siberian  is  said  t.)  W  jav- 
'•''••'''le.     The  Poland  lias  a  thick 
husk  and  u  coarse  straw.     Tho 
v/liite    varieties   uro    known    l.y 
niiiny  loeal  names,  tlionni,  there 
'-'•0    Init    sli-ht     dillerenees    |.e- 
tween  them.     Oats  re(|nire    ^ood 
loumy   or   stiff  soil   t.     produce 
tho  lurgesf  cnips,  and  do  l.est  in 
a  moist    elimale  or  wet  season. 
They  an,'   generally  sown  bn-ad- 
<'ast,  and  harrowed  or  rolled  in. 
^Many  iiirmers  are  aceustoiued  to 
allow  them  to  stand  ^lo  long  and 
g-ct  over-ripene.l.      I,,   this^  ase 
they  shell   ;    ,,  ,.asilv.  thus      , us- 
ing considei.iMe  loss,  while  the 
straw     becomes     comparativelv 
worthless  for  f'..,,,|i,)g  purpo,-.r<. 
As  soon  as  the  .>(.jm  turns  yellow 
I'clow  the   head   or  panicle,  tlio 
ci'opshonld  becut, without  (lela_-, . 
U  has  been  oi'ten  renu,    .od  i>v 
iiirmers  that  other  crop     m  ■     • 
rotation  follow  oats  beto  r  than 
FifT.  140.  Out-  any  other  iirain. 


-^.  "isg"— "^ 


M'TlilTIVK    <^r.\l. ITI  i;s-    SKKI..  I7;J 

The  initritiv,.  ,|„alith.s  nf  ,,;,(s  aiv  Irss  tliui.  tlioso  of 
any  ..ll„.r  oiaiii,  taking,  u.-i-lit  lor  wcio.l.f,  vorv  rarc-lv 
oxroLMlii.u',  ovoM  in  the  lir.t  ,,iMlity.  T.»  per  ceMtf:  wliile 
those  ot  wheat,  for  ii.stunee,  often  excee.!  !»:,  ,„>,•  ,vnt 
They  are  used  mainly  as  fo(,.l  for  horses  in  tins  eoun- 
try,  the  use  for  any  o(i,er  purpose  l,ein-  eoniparativelv 
limited.  In  Franee  and  (;ern.any  the  practice  of  [..kin'o. 
<Mts  and  rye  to^-ether  in  loaves  as  Ibod  for  horses  is 
said  to  he  ,ii'ainin|n'  {^'I'dund. 

The  quantity  Mf  oars  iv,p,ired  to  seed  an  acre  prop- 
''■•ly  IS  In.n,  three  t..  lo,.r  laishels.  .\h,nv  farnaMs  over- 
seed,  and  use  fron.  lour  l„  six  lu.shels.  l,ut  withouf 
ivajHU^  Ml  proportion  lo  what  thev  had  sown. 

For  the  purpose  of  aseertaiuin-  so  lar  as  one  expc^i- 
inent  could  throw  li^hi  upon  it.  the  requisite  quantity 
to  seed  an  ace  fully  and  ec.non.icallv,  ...xperin.ents 
wore  instituted  ut  tho  State  Farm,  in  Massachusetts  in 
the  .,.  'ug  ol   18r)S.  and  with  the  following  results 

Tlie  oats  were  s<,wu   hroad.-ast,  on  the  liTth  and  2Sth 
days  ot    \    n\^  and  harrowed  in: 


il 


Lot   N...    1,  ut   III.     ,:i|c   (,!■  five   hllsJioN 

■'.  "      lour        " 

"         •'.  '•              "      tliivo      " 

"         -i.  "             "      >w..         '. 

'I'll. 


to  tlic  acre,  viekl  12  IxislieN 

"  "  10  "    '. 

12(1 1;,    " 


l'»fs    consi-teil    ot   ai 


'   f'crc   and   a    half  each,  and 


were  manured  with  one  hundn-d  pounds  of  plaster  of 
laris  per  acre,  spread  broadcast,  and  harrowed  in,  ex- 
cept a  strip  of  one  a,  re,  running  across  all  the  lots, 
which  reeeivcM    no  plaster.     The  oats  were  harvested 

"'  tl.o  28th  ot  ./niv,  and  thrashed  on  the  I'd  and  :!d  davs 
ol   ."^eptembei-. 

The  yield  of  lot   number  one  was   fortv-two  bushels- 
ol  number  two,  thirty-five  bushels  and  a  half  .•   of  num- 
ber  three    forty  bushels:    of  number  four,  twenty-six 
and  a  liair  bushels. 
15* 


M 


111 


>  r      . .  n 


174 


t  i    » 


III  J 


^  ii:i.i>.  ^   i.\i>i.\\    coi.'x. 


-•'■    ''^";;-"'V"'I.H'plas„.rvi,.l,I..,|„v..nlva,Hl 

;'     '"'    '"'^'-.'""Iwu^    |.v„y  „n;tn,,n    o„   nil    thr    !.,,, 
"•at  „„   n(ii,.h(.r  ......   I,,.,,,..  ,|„     ,„.|,„.st.  iM.tl,  in  ..•,„•.■' 

iiiiil  sfiaw.  '~ 

''''"•  '•'•"I'/va.   s.nail.  ih..    huni    Im.,,,.-  unlhv..n,l.|,.   I,.,- 

;;:'p '"";•  ;^'''  '"■  i"-— '>  -lu,  ,1,..  1,,  s.....i..,i 

"  t.  tli.v,.  lM.sh,.|s,.,,lH.a.T..    ,,r.„lM..,.,I    tnrtv  l„ish,.|. 

wli.lo  that  soc.K..hvi,hliv..|,,.sl,,.|>, ,,.,,, l,,...,|;,nlvfurtv' 
tw.t  liiislicls. 

,  'I'l'l'  •■N|M-iii,H.n,,  tl..,u^l,  ..x,.....,|inu.h.  nnsatistiu-torv 
'"  -«"•';  >vs|nM.,s.  s.v.Ms  tc.  i,„li..al..  H.if  the  use  cV 
hvcM.rsi.x  hushds  is  ni.Mv  than  is  n....|..,|.  an,!  that  thive 
or  lunr  a.v  sMni,.i,.nt,  cspe.-iallv  .,n  Ian.)  that  i,  w.-lj 
ruitivated  and  pri'paiv.l. 

A    j;...„l    vi..M    „|'  oats   is    iV.un    sixty  t„   sovontv-five 
'■"si.ds  ,,,.,•  aciv,  an.l  this  is  .,11,,,  ..htaincMhvithout  a 
extraonjniarx   ciiltnrL'. 


any 


l.MMAN    COJJN. 

INOIAX  r,.,,.x  ,/.,,  ,na!,.s)  was  found  iin.ler  cultivatinn 
I'.v  th,.  In.hans.  un  the  .lis....verv  ,,f  M,,'  Xeu-  \V..rl,l 
and  was.  nn.iuestional.ly,(,r  Anieii.v.n  ..,!..,„  Jts  ,.vn' 
ynr  nan,.,  was  .lerive.l  Iru.n  a  (;,v..k  u-.ir.l,  si^nifVin- 
W/rr,  ami  was  ai.pli.Ml  t„  this  plant  .u,  a.v.nuit  of  the 
laiinaceous  or  mealy  nature  of  the  seed,-.. 

'H'lian  .•on,,  or  maix...  ^n.ws   with  a  strong',  joint.-d 


<tallc 


stallc,  riMug-  to  th..  I,..ight  of  from  five  t..  fifteen  ieet 
with  hu-ge.  alternate  l.-aves  starting  from  ..aeh  joint  as 
•shown  in  Fig.  141.  The  male  or  sterile  Ih.we'rs,  Fi.,." 
1  ^2.  are  arrange.]  in  a  loos,.,  spreading  pam'ele  at  tlie 
apex  , .alio.!  the  tassel,  and  the  female  or  fertile  flowers 
Fig-.  143,  on  the  si.le.  ' 

Each  plant  hears  from  one  to  four  ..r  fiv.>  ears,  Fig-. 

144.     As  manv  as   siv    "<•  pio-i.t   !,.i%- .      ,     <•        \ 

' ' '.^irf   firu  e  xuiielnnes  heen 


IM'IA.N     fOUN.  175 

ro.md    Ml,    sniiir   ,.r  th,.  v;iri..ti("s.     TIm-   cars  are   cyli 


in- 


KiL'.  142. 


Fif:.  14.j. 


I'i^r.  141.    liidiaii  ('"rii. 


Ki.'    144. 


Fi^.^  145 


!!l| 


1  s, 


II 


I   II 


176 


DKSt  IIII'JION 


■USK 


I    ! 


f    .  i: 


■■i 
1  -A^ 


(Iriciil,  jiiid  eiu'losod  in  a  con- 
of  slRNitlis.  (.'ailed  the  husks 


eriii^-  of  lea\L's,  in  the  form 


Tl 


fruit 


le  ears  consist  of  the 


or  ^'rani,  arraiijiX'd  m  rows  aroni 


ailed  the  cah.      'I'hc  nunihcr  ol'  r 


id  a  pithy  cylindi'r, 


to  thirl\-si.\.  JMit   does   \u)i 


ows  varies   h(»ni  ci^ht 


sixteen,  while   llie   munhor  of 
thirty  to  lortv.     Tl 


ilsiiallv  exccL'd    foiiiteeii   oi- 


grains   m   a   row  is   lioia 


leso  seetls  are   roundei 


on   the  sur- 


face, and  coniprcissed  on  the  sides,  and  fioiu  the  "cri 


n  or 


eye  ol  each  a  silkv  or  tin 


I'li-hl-oreen  color  extends  alonu'   the   ii 


cad-likt'   style  or  lilaiuent  of  a 


iner  side  of  the 


lin- 


ks, and  hangs  down,  forming  together  a  thick  cluster, 


alle.l  the  .s!//,-s.      T\ 


lesc  receive!   the   [lollen  or  liirina  a.> 


I'oni 


the  stann'nate   j|(jwei-s  of  the    f 


isse 


'I'll 


•iced  ( 


■oiild  not  attain  jierlectioii  unless   it   received    tl 


pollen   hv  means  of  its  silk 

d  r 


n^ 


a   fact  w  hich 


proved  hy  cutting  olf  the  tassels  of  all  the  stall 
iiig  together,  I.elore  their  flowers  develop.      Jnd 


••••111  he  easilv 


IS   an    aiiiiu; 


1.S  grow- 
iiin  corn 


see(l< 
plant: 


Is  one  () 


and,   owing  to   the   mealy  quality   of  its 
f  the  mo<l  important  of  all  the  cultivated 


riiere  is  hut  one  species  rulcrred  hv  botanists  to  this 
genus.  ,ra:  hut  of  this,  there  are  innumerai.l.>  varieties 
*  "''  "•  ••li'nate.  soil,  and  culture.  These  varieties  an- 
.iislinginshcd  i,y  the  size  and  color  of  the  grains  the 
iHUnl.or  of  rows  on  the  ear.  the  length  of  time  remiired 
to  eome  to  maturity,  an.l  oth.M'  characteristics,  whhdi 
can  hardly  he  sai.l  to  he  fixeil  and  permanent,  as  thev 
are  easily  modified  hv  culture. 

Indian  corn  is  extensiv.dy  used  as  human  food,  and 
tor  fee.lmg  and  fattenmg  domestic  animals,  and  holds  th.- 
'",ii'h'"<t  rank  among  the  cereals,  whether  its  nutritive 
M"''lities.  ,)|-  the  produce  and  return  for  the  seed  sown, 
or  it-;  range  of  climate,  lie  regarded. 

(^>tton  is  sometimes  said  to  he  king:  l)ut  if,  in  Amer- 
iran  agricultiiiv.  tlu-  genius  of  which  is  truly  republican 


.mkm 


COMPOSITIOxV  —  VARIETIES. 


177 


Where  all  the  great  stapler  form  so  important  a  part  fn 
promoting  the  nat.onal  prosperity,  one  can  be  fai  " 
hold  preermnence  over  the  rest,  the  palm  must  be  yielded 

banner  h,gh  over  all  ,ts  compeers,  and  founding  its 
clann  to  royalty,  as  the  prince  of  cereals,  by  the  univers  I 
ity  of  J  s  uses,  and  its  intrinsic  importance  to  mankind 
Its   1  ex,bdUy    of   organisation   is   truly   wonde  f  d  • 

g  tat  heat.,  there  are  yaneties  of  it  which  can  be  raised 

level  ot  the  sea      The   warmest  regions  of  the  torrid 
zone  produce  .t  ,n  abundance,  while'the  short  summ    ' 
ot  Canada  have  varieties  adapted  to  them,  and  arrive  at 
n-.atunty  with  almost  the  same  certainty  a    t .        unde 
a  hotter  sun,  and  a  longer  season. 

According  to  some  analyses,  Indian  corn  furnishes  in 
Its  compos.t,rm  88.43  per  cent,  of  fat-forming  priiS^^^^ 
gum,  A'c;  126  per  cent,  of  flesh-fo.ming  principle  9 
P'M-  cent,  of  water,  and  1.31  per  cent,  of  salts  its 
chemical  composition  shows  it' to  be  an^ngf,  -..o 
fattening  ot  the  cereals,  and  this  is  also  the  result  of 
experience.     For  our  domestic  animals,  therefore  and 

n.p.ut\y  be  regarded  as  superior  even  to  wheat. 

Ao  part  of  the  plant  is  necessarily  lost,  or  thrown 
aside  as  worthless.     Even  the  col  is  gro  nd.  ml  for 
some  pu.-po.os  of  feeding  to  stock,  ft  if  very  valuab  e 
0    f  ,t  were  necessary,  the  plant  would  supply  u 

n".»eiable  Among  the  favorites  for  high  latitudes 
HI  this  country,  as  m  Maine,  New  Hampshire,  A'c  mav 
be  mention ;d  the  Earlv  fVm.Jo  th.  ^m  Ei<^hn-  v^ 
^cUaw,  andw.tl,  .omo  tl.e  King  Pl,i|i,,,„,-  B,mvu  corn, 


li 


:  illi' 


i^/M 


"a 


ITS 


KOCKY    MOUNTAIN    CORN 


hough  the  latter  has  not  met  the  expectations  raised 
or  It  by  the  United  States  Patent  Office.  A  varietv 
known  us  the  Smutty  White  is  also  largely  cultivated  in 
some  sections  ot  Massachusetts,  and  its  yield  is  greater 
than  .nios  others  adapted  to  northern  latitudes  The 
1  urk.sh  Ulate  Flint,  the  Early  Button,  Peabody's  Pro- 
hhc  the  Golden  bioux,  the  Kentucky  Field,  the  Wyan- 
dotte, the  Uhite  Gourd-seed,  the  Tuscurora,  and  niany 
others,  might  be  named.  "^ 

_    In  addition  to  these  prominent  varieties,  which  are 
m  some   sections,  cultivated   as  field   crops,  might  be' 
mentioned  several  well-marked  varieties  of  Sweet  corn 
such  as  Stoweirs  Evergreen,  the  Asylum,  the  Old  Col! 
ony  sweet  corn,  and  Darling's  Early,  to  say  nothing  of 
several  other  favori^te  early  varieties. 

There  is  a  variety  kno\vn  as  the  Rocky  Mountain 
corn,  the  kernels  of  which  are  each  coVered  with 
glumes  or  husks,  which  they  lose,  on  cultivation,  in  the 
course  of  three  or  four  years.  In  addition  to  these 
many  small-eared  varieties  used  for  parching,  and  known 
as  Pop  corn,  are  cultivated  to  a  limited  extent  in  all  parts 
of  the  country,  and  amo.ig  them  Rice  corn  and  Calico 
corn. 

The  culture  of  Indian  corn  is  simple,  and  easily  un- 
derstood.    It  requires  a  deep,   rich,  and  mellow' soil 
thoroughly  tilled.     Afler  ploughing,  the   land  is  care- 
iully  marked  off  in  rows  from  three  to  four  feet  apart 
each  way,  according  as   the  variety  is   large  or  small, 
when  four  or  five  kernels  are  dropped  in  a  hill,  either 
by  hand  or  machine,  and  covered  to  the  depth  of  from 
one  to  two  mches.     After  the  corn  is  up,  it  is  cultivated 
with  the  horse  hoe  or  plough,  to  keep  it  free  from  weed< 
It  IS  sometimes  hilled  at  the  last  hoeing;  at  others  the 
ground  IS  left  level,  which  is  thought  to  be  the  best. 
When  Indian  corn  is  planted  as  a  fodder  crop,  or  to 


V 


SELECTION    OF    SEED.  179 

important  plants  we  have. 

Most  „f  the  operations',-,,  tl,o  c„itu,o  nnd  harvosti,,,, 
of  l„d,a„  co,„  ,„ay  bo  pcfonuod  by „,achi„o,v      uZ 

uocted  w  tl,  ,t,  may  „„u-  be  well  a„J  ,,„ic.kiy  done  at  a 
e.eat  sav,„g  „r  t,„,<,  „„j  ,„,„,  „,„^  .[^  old";,,;      df 

1"   »elect„,g  co,„  lb,'   seed,  tl,e  tins  of  (l,„  „ 

t  ougbt  to  bo  be»,,  a,.d  that  p,,.  n'rtl  e        t  e  .d^ 

E,J"'',"7'  """'""■    '^''■'  ""'""'""  Pmotice  i,°l°t 

f "?';' '"'■  ■»"">•  >■"'»-, !'«»  l3ee„  to  use  o„ly  the  seedl 

wh,ei,  g,mv  o„  the  ,ni(; :1|„  of  tl,o  oar 

partl'ir'r'r'r*'  "',""""•'' ""'  '"^■°"  '■'■'>™  d'ff-»nt 

parts    ,1  tho  ear  lias   been  lepoatodlv  tried    and  tl,„ 
es^l     ,as  a  „,ost  u„ifor„„y  been  bette,"  frcn  tb^t   a 

Pieje  de.e,„p„,e„t  and  pe,.^;-:,';  J^s       .  ^"In  ,r 
w.tb.,.  ,„y  k„„„,„,,g,,  fo„„„.^j  „^  ,^.^  e.xperimerfo; 


t'ig.  140, 

ten  years,  planting  only  the  corn  from  the  .mall  end  of 
the  ears,  choosu^g  such  as  were  well  filled  out  Ln 
^oloctn.,.   only  that  from  the  middle  of  th  ;  td 

then  on  y  that  from  the  large  ends.     After  ten  ye;  s 
he  found  that  in  «,.vo,,  y,...2  ,.f  .,      .       ,,     ^^"  ^  ^^'^^^ 
fl.o  ,.«  n       1      '  '^V     -^    ""  ^*  tho  leu  the  crop  from 
the  «mall  ends  was  the  largest  and  best. 


ili'. 


180 


STATE    FARM    EXPERIMENT. 


A  similar  experiment  was  tried  at  the  State  Farm  of 
Massachusetts,  in  the  summer  of  1858. 

Two  acres  were  planted,  on  a  light  soil,  well  adapted 
to  Indian  corn,  manured  with  seven  and  a  half  cords 
of  barn-yard  manure  to  the  acre,  spread  broadcast  and 
cultivated  in,  and  ten  bushels  of  leached  ashes  and  one 
hundred  pounds  of  gypsum  to  the  acre,  put  in  the  hill. 
The  corn  was  planted  on  the  third  day  of  June,  in  alter- 
nate rows,  with  seed  taken  from  tho  large  ends,  middles, 
and  tips,  of  the  ears.     It  was  hoed  three  times  in  the 
course  of  the   season.     One  acre  was   harvested   and 
husked  with  care,  and  the  result   noted  on  the   19th 
of  Octobpr.    The  rows  planted  with  seed  taken  from  the 
large   ends   of  the  ears  produced  seven  hundred  and 
thirty-eight  pounds  of  sound  and  seventy-seven  pounds 
of  soft  corn  on  the  ear,  and  one  thousand  three  hun- 
dred and  sixty  pounds    of  stover.      That   from   seed 
taken  from  the  middle  of  the  ears  produced  six  hundred 
and  sixty-three  pounds  of  sound  corn  in  the  ear,  one 
hundred  and  sixty-four  pounds  of  soft  corn,  and  one 
tliousand  two  hundred   and  ninety  pounds  of  stover. 
Tiiat  from  seed  taken  from  the  small  ends  produced 
seven  hundred  and  forty-seven  pounds  of  sound  and 
fifty-three  pounds  of  soft  corn,  and  one  thousand  three 
hundred  and  twenty  pounds  of  stover.     Comparing  the 
crops  grown  on  this  acre,  and  estimating  the  sound  corn 
at  one,  and  the  soft  corn  at  half  a  cent  per   pound, 
and  the  stover  at  seven  dollars  the  ton,— which  is  about 
Its  market  value  in  that  vicinity,  — it  would  appear  that 
the  value  of  the  crop  the  seed  for  which  was  taken 
from  the  large  ends  of  the  ear  was  as  follows  : 

738  pounds  of  sound  corn,  ®  1  cent  per  pound,    #7.38 

77      "  soft  corn,      i®  i    "      •«       ><  _g,) 

1360      "  stover,  ®  7  dollars  per  ton,       470 


II 


COMPARATIVE    RESULTS. 


181 


eakl;:'"r  t^-r,r:;[,,:':,,:r  ^"-'^^ """  --' 


$C,.G3 


C03  pounds  sound  corn, 

I'j-i       "       soft  corn,  g.^ 

1200      «'      stover,  ®  7  dollars  per  ton,     4.51 


747  pounds  sound  corn,     !g;7.47 
^•^       "       soft  corn,  •> 

13'JO      "       stover. 


2i 
4  02 


i&'i^.se 


J^ounclcorn;  while  the  middles  produced  the  r..  \T' 
buUs  the  next,  and  the  tips  the  ^ast  "oft  corn  ^  ^''  ''" 
One  expernnent,  as  already  intimated,  does  not  prove 
a  po  nt  n.  agr.cultnre,  however  fair  i  ^.y  be  -  "h 
t  .U,ove  was  eminently  so.  so  far  as  nnifo/mity  of  oU 
and  manurniff  was  concprnp*]       o,  j  *i  •        •       "^ 

.,>^;::^:::r':i:;^ii;: -;™^j^''--" ->«  cut 

fce.i,  w  „oh  ,s  reli.l.ed  l,y  ,.11  kinds  of  stock  and  , 
e^pccally  valuable  for  feeding  to  vnun.  n.-^lutj 
futwahstandiuK  the  objection  often  made' to  it,' it  fs' 

16 


I!  •! 


:t 


:  ■( 


M'    -m 


I  ; 


182 


DRIED    CORN    AS    FODDER. 


^vortl.y  of  a  more  extended  cultivation  for  tl.is   pur- 
pose,  ^ 

Tlic  amount  of  dri.d  fodder  whicl,  may  ],e  obtained 
^om  It,  when  properly  cultivated,  is  truly  astonishino-! 
I  erlmps  the  process  of  kiln-drying  might  be  introduce^] 
with  advantage.  It  is,  at  least,  worthy  of  a  careful 
trial,  wherever  facilities  for  it  can  be  had  at  a  reason- 
able  exp  ^:ise. 


f      ! 


pur- 

ined 
ling-, 
iced 
eful 
son- 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE      ARTIFICIAL      GR\,SSPS-      nn       t,t 

VATED    AND    USED    Likec  R  A  ^^.f'" '     ''^"^- 

ural  or  the  true  grasses      VV        '^^'^^^^  ''"'^'  '^^"  "^^^■ 

brieflv,  another  d.^f    ^  "^  "^^^  *°  '^""^^'^'^^'■^  very 

CuHou         ;^  P''^"'"'  "^"^^  ^^^'ficial  grasses 

clover  having  LeVn  rod  17'' i"  ''"'^''^"' '  *^"  ''^^ 
the  vear  IfJsV  "!'^7^^^  and  grown  there  about 

f  .1.0  natural  g,.a,,os  «^'l  c^  t    a™^„^;«,,r'  °™ 
Aliout  the  j-oar  1739  the  custom  of  sowinjr  the  cl,,(r 

grasses  then  found  growin.-  w.ld  «„  .i  ,"" 

-^t.,!,  th.  ,.eaduw  iescu.,  the  sweet-scented  vornd 

(183) 


i     .» 


J: 


-.'..i^-.i 


fir 


184 


EARLY  CULTURE  OF  GRASSES 


■.mn 


grass,  &c.;  and  in  ITG!)  the  same  society  ofteretl  addi- 
tional rewards  for  further  investigations   and  experi- 
ments  on  the   culture  and   comparative   vahie  of   the 
natural  grasses.     But  little  was  done,  however,  till  the 
experiments  at  Woburn  Abbey,  in  1824. 
^  lu  this  country  the  extensive  and  practical  cultiva- 
tion of  the  natural  grasses  seems  to  have  been  com- 
menced at  an  earlier  date  than  in  England  ;  for  Jared 
Eliot,  writing  about  the  year  1750,  speaks  of  the  cul- 
ture of  Timothy  as  having  been  adopted   some  time 
previously,      Indeed,  the  necessities  of  our  rigorous 
climate  compelled  attention  to  this  branch  of  husbandry 
soon  after  the  establishment  of  the  Plymouth  colony  in 
the  year  1620. 

The  climate  of  PJngland,  on  the  other  hand,  admitted 
a  greater  degree  of  reliance  on  the  wild  luxuriance  of 
nature,  while  the  culture  of  the  grains   gave  a  suffi- 
ciency of  coarse  straw,  which  formed  the  winter  sus- 
tenance  for   stock   till   the   modern    improvements   in 
farming  introduced  a  better  system.      This  mode  of 
management  was  brought  over  to  this  country  by  the 
first  settlers,  and  attempted  for  some  time;  theVew  cat- 
tle they  had  being  kept  on  poor  an*l  miserable  swale  hay 
or  often  upon  the  hay  obtained  from  the  salt  marshes' 
The  death  of  their  cattle  from  starvation  and  exposure 
was  of  very  common  occurrence,  and  not  unfrequently 
the  farmer  lost  his  entire  herd.     The  treatment  of  ani- 
mals now  as  they  were  treated  during  the  whole  of  the 
first  century  of  the  colony,  would  be  an  evidence  of 
mhumanity  which  could  scarcely  be  tolerated  in  any 
community.    This  treatment  was  in  part,  at  least,  owin'jr 
to  the  poverty  of  the  settlers,  and  more,  probablv,  to 
the  ideas  and  practices  in  which  they  had  been  early 
trained  in  a  different  climate.    Fortunately  for  the  most 
useful  of  our  domestic  animals,  a  more  enlightened  pol- 


,■,.-(.«<««—» 


RED    CLOVER— T^vgcRIPTION. 


186 


icy  now  governs  the  mass  of  men,  and  this  policy  has 
e.l  to  g-reater  care  and  attention  to  the  cultivation  of 
the  graiJses, 

The  culture  of  the  natural  grasses  takes  the  prece- 
denee,  there  ore  ,n  this  country,  in  point  of  time,  from 
the  causes  already  mdicated  ;  but  the  miuds  of  men  are 
BO  n,fluenced  by  the  routine  of  ordinary  practice  1 1  at 
the  n.trodnction  of  clover  in  the  early  'part  o  1  ; 
century  n.et  w.th  great  prejudice,  which  is  now  near  1^ 
if  not  quite  extmct.  •'^' 

Red   Clover   {Trlfolium  pratense),  though   not  in 
eluded   H.    the  family   of  grasses,    is   not  otly   ext  "' 
sively  cultivated,  but  is  found  to  be  one  of  the  most 
valuable  and  economical  forage  plants.     It  belongs  to 
he  pulse  family,  or  Lajuminosce,  which  includes  the 
larger  portion  of  forage  plants  called  artificial  grasses 
ni  distinction  from  the  gramincc^,  the  only  true    and 
often  called  the  natural  grasses.     The  generic  name 
refoil  or  tnfol,um,is  derived  from  the  Latin  ^,.Mhree 
and/o^..^^  a  leaf;  and  the  genus  can  generallv  be  very 
really  distinguished  by  the  number  fnd  arr^ngem  n^ 
of  Its  leaves  in  three   leaflets,  and  flowers  in  den«. 
oblong  or  globular  heads. 

end  and  marked  on  the  upper  side  with  a  pale  spot- 
heads  ovate,  and  set  directly  upon  the  staik,  insLad 
of  upon  branches.  This  species  is  re.garded  as  bvlr 
the  most  important  of  fhe  whole  genus  for  the  poeti- 
cal prirposes  of  agriculture.  It  has  passed  into  a  num- 
ber of  varieties,  one  of  which  is  biennial,  another  p  ,-en- 
X  ;    he  T  ''  ^-^.-^^tivation  becoming  bie'nnS, 

:  n!  ltua™"--T-^^  "  ^^"^    ''  --^  b---i.  and 
nian>    «nnuaxputuis- assumes,  to  some  extent,  the 


I 


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1  I 


18G 


ITS    EARLY    INTRODUCTION. 


|!'l 


character  of  a  perennial,  and  can  bo  made  to  last  tlireo 
or  four  years,  or  even  more,  by  simply  preventing  it 
from  ruimino:  to  seed.  This  plant  is  seen  in  Fig.  147, 
its  leaf  is  shown  in  Fig.  148,  and  its  fruit  magnified  in 
Fig.  Ut). 


Fig.  U9. 


Fig.  147.     Red  Clciver.  .   pj™  j^o 

The  introduction  of  clover  into  England,  it  is  often 
said,  produced  an  entire  revolution  in  her  agriculture ; 
and,  indeed,  when  we  consider  how  important  a  part  it 
plays  in  our  own  system  of  farming,  we  can  with  diffi- 
culty imagine  how  our  ancestors  ever  got  on  at  all  in 
farming  without  it.  Be  this  as  it  may,  it  is  certain  that 
it  led  to  many  of  the  most  important  improvements  in 
the  rotation  of  crops.  Clover  is  very  properly  regarded 
as  a  fertilizer  of  the  soil.  The  action  of  its  long  and 
powerful  tap-roots  is  not  only  mechanical,  — loosening 
the  soil,  and  admitting  the  air,— but  also  chemical,  serv^ 


mi 


C0MPU31TI0N — CULTURE. 


187 


ing  to  fix  the  gases  important  to  cnriclj  the  earth,  and 
when  these  roots  docay  they  add  hirgely  to  that  black 
mass  of  matter  we  call  tlie  soil.  It  serves,  also,  by  its 
luxuriant  Ibliage,  to  destroy  annual  weeds  which  would 
spring  up  on  newly-seeded  land,  especially  after  imper- 
fect cultivation.  But  one  of  the  most  vafuable  uses  of 
it.  and  one  too  often  overlooked,  is  to  shade  the  surface 
of  the  soil,  and  thereby  increase  its  fertility. 

Clover  is  emphatically  a  lime  plant,  and  the  son,  ..est 
adapted  to  it  are  tenacious  or  stiff  loams.  The  careful 
analysis  of  Professor  Way  found  no  less  than  35.39  per 
cent  of  lime  in  the  inorganic  constituents  of  red  clover, 
an<l  th.it  of  Boussingault  32.80  per  cent.,  while  intelli' 
gent  practice  has  arrived  so  nearly  at  the  same  conclu- 
sion, that  the  term  "  clover  soils  "  is  now  almost  univer- 
sally used  to  indicate  a  tenacious  loam,  containing  more 
or  less  of  lime  or  clay  in  its  composition. 

Another  great  advantage  in  favor  of  the  cultivation  of 
clover,  consists  in  its  rapid  growth.  But  a  fow  months 
elapse  from  the  sowing  of  the  seed  before  it  yields, 
ordinarily,  an  abundant  and  nutritious  crop,  relished  by 
cattle  of  all  kinds. 

Clover-seed  should  always  be  sown  in  the  spring  of 
the  year,  in  the  climate  of  Xew  England.  It  is  often 
sown  upon  the  late  snows  of  March  or  Ai)ril,  and  soon 
finds  its  way  down  to  the  soil,  where,  aided  by  the 
moisture  of  early  spring,  it  quickly  germinates,  and  rap- 
idly shoots  up  its  leaf-stalks. 

An  accurate  and  valuable  analysis  of  this  plant  both 
in  Its  green  and  dry  state,  will  be  found  in  a  tabular 
form  on  a  subsequent  page  ;  while  a  more  extended 
notice  of  its  culture  and  the  mode  of  curing  it,  with 
the  results  of  practical  experience  as  to  its  value,  will 
also  be  given  in  its  proper  place. 


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188 


WHITE    CLOVER. 


A\H,TE  Clover,  Dutch  Clover,  Honeysuckle  (Trt. 
fohuM  repens),  ,s  equally  common  with  the  r.d  and 
often   orms  a  very  considerable  portion  of  the  H;ard 

soil.     Its  stems  are  spreading,  slender,  and  creeping; 


Pig.  160.     White  Clover. 


Fig.  15J. 


leaves  mversely  heart-shaped  ;  flower-heads  small,  white  • 
pods  four-seeded  ;  root  perennial.  Flowers  from  Mav 
to  heptember.  This  plant  is  shown  in  Fig.  150  A 
magnified  flower  is  seen  in  Fig.  151. 

White  clover  is  widely  diffused  over  this  country  and 

both  to  England  and  America.      When  first  ciltivated 
f.  om  seed  collected  from  wild  plants,  at  the  beginning 

had  '  '!!  Tr^  ''J''  ''''''^''^  "f  ^  f-™-  that  he 

Ground       ^.^'   ''^'^   ''^'''   '^'""^''   ^^'"'^'^   holds   the 
g.ound  and  decays  not."     Its  chief  value  is  as  a  pas 

some  Xn  T'  "'  ^''  '°'''"^'  *^°"g'^  there  are 

some  who  place  a  low  estimate  upon  it 

soils  Zf^^  «^^«"^"^odates  itself  to  a  great  variety  of 

mois't  or  ZT  ""''  '""77*'-^^  "  "°'^t  .rounds'lnd 
Ton    or  wet  seasons.      Indeed,  it  depends  so  much 

h'twhrt;      '■"^*"'"^r  °^-- through  the  season 
that  when  they  are  sufficiently  abundant  it  comes  in 


cow    GRASS.— LUCERNE. 


189 


profusely  even  where  it  was  not  observed  in  other 
years,  and  hence  such  seasons  pass  under  the  term  of 
''  clover  years."  It  is  not,  apparently,  so  much  relished 
by  stock  as  from  its  sweetness  we  should  be  led  to 
expect ;  but  it  is,  on  the  whole,  to  be  cherished  for  per- 
manent  pastures,  and  improved,  as  it  undoubtedly  may 
be,  by  a  proper  selection  and  culture  of  varieties.  For 
an  accurate  analysis  of  this  plant,  tlie  reader  is  referred 
to  a  subsequent  page. 

Cow  Grass,  Zigzag  Clover,  Perennial  Clover 
{Tri/ohum  medium),  grows  on  dry  hills  in  Abissachu- 
setts,  and  has  been  introduced  for  cultivation  in  vari- 
ous  parts  of  the  country,  as  a  pasture  plant.  Its  stems 
are  zigzag,  smoothish  ;  leaflets  oblong,  entire,  spotless  ; 
heads  mostly  stalked  ;  flower  purple,  and  larger  than  in 
red  clover. 

Alsike,  or  Swedish  Clover  (TnfoUum  hjhridum), 
has  also  been  introduced  for  cultivation  on  moist,  strong 
soils,  and  is  found  to  be  a  valuable  acquisition.  It  will 
continue  in  the  soil  for  many  years,  from  its  own  seeds, 
if  left  to  mature. 

Suckling  Red  Clover  (2^rj/o?iwm/Z«/ome)  has  also 
been  introduced  and  recommended  for  cultivation,  but 
has  not  come  into  general  culture. 

Lucerne,  Alfalfa  {Medlcago  sativa),  is  shown  in 
Fig.  152.  Leguminous  plants  of  the  genus  Medicago 
have  been  known  and  cultivated  frorr  time  immemo- 
rial. This  particular  species,  lucerne,  was  brought  from 
Media  to  Greece,  in  the  time  of  Darius,  about  five  hun- 
dred years  before  Christ,  and  its  cultivation  afterwards 
extended  among  the  Romans,  and  through  them  to  the 
south  of  France,  where  it  has  ever  since  continued  to 
be  a  fevorite  forage  plant.  It  does  not  (indure  a  climate 
as  severe  as  red  clover,  requiring  greater  heat  and  sun- 


m- 


190 


HABIT    OP    GROWTH. 


g  ,  but,  ,n  a  la  itude  equally  suited  to  both  plants,  it 
^vou  (],  perhaps,  be  somewhat  diflicult  to  say  wh  cli 
should  have  the  preference.  In  some  respects  it  is 
decidedly  superior,  as  in  being  perennial,  Ld  conse- 
quently  remannng  long  in  the  soil.  I  have  seen  fife 
specimens  of  ,t,  where  the  seed  was  sown  in  1824  st  H 
mamtannng  its  vigorous  hold  of  the  soil,  and  growin.^ 
nth  remarkable  luxuriance.     The  crop  of  lucerne  Tsat 

catt  e,  both  green  and  dry.     Its  yield  of  green  fodder 
contmues  later  m  the  season  than  that  of  red  dover 


V 


Fig.  154. 


I       < 


Lucerne  sends  down  its  tap  roots  in  mellow  soiis  fo 
enormous  depths,  l„wing  been  found  in  sliyso  Is  th  . 
teen  (eet  ,„  length.    The  leaflets  are  in  threiVo"" 


IE:,.     - 


CULTURE    OF    LUCERXE. 


191 


oblong,  toothed  ;  the  flowers  pale-bhie,  violet,  or  purple 
shaped  as  in  Fig.  153  ;  the  fruit  in  downy  pods,  havin.^ 
two  or  three  twirls,  as  in  Fig.  154.  '  " 

Lueerne  is  cultivated  in  Chili,  and  grows  wild  in  the 
utmost   luxunance   in  the  pampas  of    Buenos  Ayre. 
where  it  is  ealled  alfalia,  whi.-h  is  simply  the  connnon' 
lucerne,  slightly  modified  by  climate,  and   may  be  re 
gaided  as  a  variety. 

The  cultivation  of  lucerne  is  somewhat  more  difficult 
than  that  of  clover  for  the  first  year,  requiring  a  soil 
thoroughly  mellowed,  and  prepared  by  clean  and  care- 
luUillage;  and  the  want  of  proper  attention  on  this 
point  has  led  to  partial  failures  in  the  attempts  to  raise 
It  m  this  country.     It  suffers  and  languishes  in  compact 
cJay  soils,  and  does  not  flourish  in  light  soils  lying  over 
an  impermeable  subsoil,  which  prevents  the  water  from 
running  off".     It  will  never  succeed  well  on  thin  soils 
But  m  a  permeable  subsoil,  consisting  of  loam,  or  sand' 
or  gravel,  its  roots  can  pciietrate  to  great  depths-  and' 
being  nearly  destitute  of  lateral  shoots,  provided  with 
numerous  fibrous  rootlets,  or  radical  off-shoots,  imbibe 
their  moisture  and  nutriment  in  layers  of  soil  far  below 
the  average  of  other  plants.     In  this  respect  it  differs 
materially  from  clover. 

For  lucerne,  a  suitable  subsoil  is  of  the  utmost  con- 
sequence.  For  the  short-lived  red  clover,  a  suitable 
surtace  soil  is  more  important;  a  want  of  care  and  deep 
tillage,  especially  a  neglect  to  breakthrough  and  loosen 
up  tlie  hard-pan  wherever  it  exists,  will  inevitably  lead 
to  failure  with  lucerne.  But,  when  the  soil  is  suitable. 
It  will  produce  good  and  very  profitable  crops  for  from 
five  to  ten  or  twelve  years,  and,  of  course,  it  does  not 
belong  in  the  system  of  short  rotations. 

But,  notwithstanding  the  large  quantity  of  succulent 
and  nutritious  forage  it  produces,  its  effect  is  to  ameli- 


'!  i 


If 


102 


ENRICHING    THE    SOIL. 


orate  and  improve  the  soil,  ratlior  tlum  to  exhaust  it 
llus  apparent  anomaly  is  explained  hy  the  fact  tha   all 
egumn,  broad-leaved  plants  deri/e  a  lar^  ptpo  ! 
t  on  of  then-  nutntive  materials  from  the  atmosphere 
and  that  a  vast  quantity  of  roots  are  left  to  dec^I' 
the  sod  when  ,t  is  at  last  broken  up,  varying  of  couie 
wjth  the  length  of  time  the  plant  continues^  n  the  soi' 
dale  the  luxuriant  foliage  serves  to  shade  the  soil  and 
thus  to  increase  its  fertility.     3Iuch  of  thi.  vTi  7'r 
i3  scattered  and  left  to  ieoa^  "afif .  ^c   "e'Sl 
s.m.lar  plants  at  the  time  of  harvesting,  and  tl  e  g     vth 

idot  tl,at  It  actually  increases  the  fertility  of  the  soil  for 
other  plants  has  often  heen  proved    -fnd  m  ,1 T 
garded  as  fully  established,    A^srill:,  •"  3d  U: 
only  a  med.um  crop  of  wheat  at  first,  produced  a  lallv 
.ncraased  quantity  after  being  laid  ch,„„  ,o  iLfrne  a 
few  years,  fll  its  roots  had  enriched  the  soil 

Lucerne  should  not  follow  immediately  after  havino- 
been  grow,,  a  few  years  on  the  same  soil,  Id  I  en 
broken  up;  but  after  the  land  ou  which  i  hL  been 
grown  has  been  cultivated  with  some  other  crop  or 
a,d  down  to  the  natural  grasses  a  length  of  time  equa 

ncerne  .t Tn^  T/" '  "  '""  l"""™^'^  -™'"»d  in 
luceine,  it  can  safely  be  sown  again  with  it 

Ihe  seed  of  lucerne,  whon  fresh  and  good,  is  yellow 

cation  that  they  are  not  ripe.  If  they  are  brown  we 
may  ,nfer  that  th,y  have  been  subjected  to  too  2Zl 
a  heat  to  separate  them  from  their  husks.    In  either  of 

them.    The  same  may  be  said  of  clover,  and  it  i,  de.ir 
ab  e  to  try  them  by  a  simple  method,  which  w  il  betl 
cated  hereafter  m  speaking  of  the  selection  of  se"  d 
As  the  seeds  of  lucerne  are  somewhat  larger  tlan 


f  i:  TT  1  N(; .  —  H  A  n  I)  I  N  KSS. 


193 


in 


clover-seed,  and  the  plant  tillers  less,  it  is  nocessarv  to 
sow  a   larger  quantity  per  acre.       It   mnv  he  s„wm  in 
the  spnng-  along-  with  grain   crops,  as  <.|over  often   is, 
and  not  a  very  large  crop  should  be  expected  (he  iir. 
year.  ' 

Lucerne  should  he  cut  as  soon  as  it  hegins  to  flower 
or  even  earher.  If  eut  much  earlier,  it  is  apt  to  be  too' 
^^H  cry  and  less  nutritious,  and  cures  with  greater  dilH- 
';nlty  :  iNater,  it  becomes  coarse  amlhard,  with  woudv 
hhre,  an<l  ,s  less  relishe<l  by  cattle.  It  may  be  cut  anil 
ted  green,  and  is  an  exceedingly  valuable  plant  lor 
soihng  cattle,  or  ,t  may  be  cut  and  cured  an,]  used  like 
clover  hay:  but  in  either  case  it  must  be  cut  before 
ulossoniMig. 

It  is   thought  by  many  that   lucerne  will  not   endure 
^nu-  northern  climates;  but   1  ,lo  not  think  it  satisfacto^ 
nly  proved, and  1  have  been  somewhat  minute  in  sr»eak- 
n-M'  of  It,  m  the  hope  of  inducing  more  careful  experi- 
ments on  a  scale  and  under  circumstances  sufH.-ient  to 
dotermn.e   ,ts   relative   value   for  us.      I  am  the  Uiore 
■••nx.ous  on  tins  point  from  the  fact  that  I  am  convince,! 
alter  much  study  and   observation   of  our  ch.uate,  that 
ne  sh,)u  ,1  dn-ect  our  labors  in  farnu-ng  n.ore  with  .'elcr- 
ence  to  the  frcp.ent  droughts  of  sumn.er  to  which  we 
are  hable  every  year,  and  from  which  there  is  no  inune- 
'liate  and  practicable  es,.apc,  excei>t  in  thorough  drain- 
ag-e  und  deep  tillag^e,  which  most  farmers  are  unwilling 
I'   n.Hlertake  at  present.     ^'  Wh.n   properly  manage^ 
he  number  of  cattle  which  .-an  be  kept  in  g-ood  cmdi- 
u,n  on  an  ,vcre  of  lucerne,  during  the  whole  season, 
exceeds  belief.     It  ,s  no  sooner  mown  than  it  pushes 
out  Iresh   shoots  ;    and,  wonderful   as  the  gn-owth   of 
clover   sometimes   is,   in  a   fiehl   that   has   been   lately 
nown,  that  of  lucerne  is  fiir  more  rapid.     Lucerne  will 
last   l.u-   many  years,   shooting-  i(s   roots- tough  an,l 


III 


ml 


194 


S  A  1  N  F  0  I  .\  —  1)  KS  C  R I  P  T  I  0  N , 


fibrous  almost  as  tliose  of  li(iuorice  —  downwards  for 
iioiirisliiiu'iit,  till  tliey  aro  altogether  out  of  the  reach 
of  drought.  \n  the  dryest  and  most  sultry  weather, 
when  every  hlade  of  grass  droo|)s  lor  want  of  moisture. 
lucerne  holds  up  its  stem,  fresh  and  green,  as  in  the 
genial  spring." 

I  am  convinced,  also,  that  the  failures  of  attempts  to 
cultivate  lucerne  with  us  may  he  ascribed,  in  very  many 
instances,  to  an  improper  selection  of  soils :  but  it  is 
nevertheless  true  that  our  climnte  is  not  so  well  adapted 
^»>  It  as  that  of  the  south  of  France  :  and  experiments 
hereafter,  like  those  already  made,  may  show  its  culture 
to  be  wholly  impracticable., 

Sainfoin  {Hedysarum  onohrychis)  differs  from  lucerne 
in  miuiy  important  particulars.  It  is  a  leguminous  plant, 
with  many  stems  from  two  to  three  feet  long,  straggling, 
tapering,  smooth;  leaves  in  pairs  of  pointed,  ot)long 
leaflets,  slightly  hairy  on  the  under  side :  flower-stalks 
higher  than  the  leaves,  ending  in  a  spike  of  crimson  or 
variegated  flowers,  succeeded  by  flat,  hard  pods,  toothed 
on  the  edges  and  prickly  on  the  sides  ;  root  peremiial 
and  hard  and  woody.  Flowers  in  July.  It  is  shown 
in  Pig.  155.  The  flower  is  shown  in  Fig.  15G,  and  the 
fruit  in  Fig.  157. 

Experiments  have  been  made  in  introducing  and  cul- 
tivating it  in  the  northern  latitudes  of  this  country,  but 
without  much  success.  It  recpiires  a  calcan^ous'  soil. 
In  the  south  of  France,  where  it  flourishes  best,  it  is 
considered  an  indispensable  forage  plant,  improving 
the  quality  and  increasing  the  quantity  of  milk  when 
fed  to  milch  cows,  to  which  it  may  be  given  Avithout 
producing  the  "hoove,"'  to  which  they  are  subjected 
when  allowed  to  i'eed  freely  on  green  clover  and  lucerne. 
Its  stalks  do  not  become  ligneous  if  allowed  to  stand  till 


SEEDS. —  SOILS. 


195 


.lossoming,  as  those  of  lucerne  do.  Tlie  amount  of 
odder  obtained  from  it  is  less  than  that  from  clover  or 
lucerne,  hut  its  <iuality,  where  it  can  be  successfully 
grown,  is  better.  Its  fruit  or  seeds  are  said  to  be  more 
nutritious  than  oats.  They  are  eagerly  sought  by  fowls 
and  are  said  to  cause  them  to  lay.  ' 


Fit.'.  157. 


Fig.  150.    Sainfoin. 


Kif.'.  156. 


Sainfoin,  when  green  and  voung,  will  not  stand  a 
severe  winter,  but  after  the  second  or  third  year  will 
endure  a  considerable  degree  of  cold.  It  will  succeed 
in  very  dry  soils,  sands,  and  gravels,  owing  to  its  long 
descending  tap  root,  which  has  been  found  sixteen  feet 
in  length.  Its  seeds  have  been  generallv  distributed 
over  the  country,  but,  so  fhr  as  I  know,  tJi^y  have  been 
ioilowed  by  no  marked  success  in  the  way  of  crops 


I 
I 


196 


.TAl'AN     CLOVKi;. 


Jai'an    ("lovki;    ( Lr.y,r>/r.z(i   sfrlti/d).      This   plant, 
suppuscnl   tu   Jiiivi."  bet'ii   introduced  t'loin  .Jii[iaii  about 

lorty  years  ago,  lias  assumed  very 
eousidcrable    ini[)ortaiiee   over   a 
large    iu)rtion    of    the     Southei'U 
States  as  a  valuable   forage  jilant. 
It     belongs    to     the     leguminous 
family.     The  leaves  are  trifoliate, 
the  (lowers   pea-shajjed   and  pur- 
plisli,  the  seed-jtods    small,   oval, 
each  holding  a  single  seed.    Tt  has 
spread  I'apidly  and  widely,  till   it 
may  now  be  said  to  extend   from 
the   Atlantic  to  Western    'lexas, 
ada[)ting  itself  to  nearly  all  soils 
and    locations.        Ou    cultivated 
lands    of    good    (puility  it  gi'ows 
erect    and    mueli    branelied,   and 
furnishes    a   very    valuabh'     hay. 
On   light    sands    and   gravels   it 
maintains  its  dwarfish  habit,  with 
a  wiry  growth  like  the  knot-grass ; 
but  on  richer  s<iils  it  rises  to  two  or  three  f        and  is 
often  called   ''bush-clover."      It  sends  a  long  tap-root 
down  into  the  sub-soil,  and  that  enables  it  to  endure  a 
drought.     Stock  of  all  kinds  are  very  fond  of  it,  and 
it  is  valuable  for  grazing  as  well  as  for  hay. 

It  is  usually  so^vn  l)roadcast  at  the  rate  of  half  a 
bushel  of  seed  to  the  acre,  and  does  well  sown  M'ith 
grain. 


Fia.  157(/.    .Taiuiii  Clover, 


CHAPTER    IV 


Tin-;    (JKASS-LIKK    HL'SIIKS,     CAUICKS,     AND     SKUGKS 
COMMONLY    CAM.KD     (;UASSKS. 


TiiKRio  is  ii  lurgo  oIhss  of  plants  l)olori,c:in,i;-  to  (lifFeront 
liiinilios,  which,  thoiio-h  of  compiinitively  h'ttle  vuhiu 
when  their  nutritive  (luulities  arc  considered,  are  nev- 
ertheless used  as  f()rao;e  crops  to  a  very  consideral)lo 
extent  in  different  sections  of  the  country,  and  demand 
at  h-ast  a  passing-  notice,  particularly  as  tliey  are  called 
grasses,  thoug'h  improperly,  in  popular  language. 

The  first  of  these  are  the  arrow  grasses,  which  form  a 
limited  family,  consisting  of  only  three  species,  known 
MS  the  Maiwii  AiMfow  Guass  (Triilochln  palmfre),  the 
.Ska-sidk  AiiRow  Ghass  {Tn'(j(or/nn  mantlminn).  flower- 
ing- in  July  and  August,  in  salt  marshes,  and  the  Taij, 
Arrow  Grass  ( Trujhr/iin  datum).  The  second  of  these, 
having  rush-like  leaves,  sweof-^jh  to  the  taste,  is  relished' 
I)y  cattle,  and  forms  a  pretty  good  fodder  when  well 
cured.  It  is  common  along  the  coast  from  Xew  Eng- 
land  south. 

Many  of  the  rushes  or  grass-like  plants  so  common 
along  the  borders  of  our  ponds,  and  called  grasses  in 
popular  language,  are  readily  eaten  in  the  spring;  while 
green  and  full  of  juice,  more  on  account  of  their  suc- 
cnlency  than  of  any  nutritive  qualities  which  they  pos- 
sess, which,  with  few  exceptions,  are  very  slight.  "They 
are  arranged  in  the  following  table: 

IT* 


I  I 


198 


nUSHK8.  —  IILA<  K     (;i{.\S.s. 


Table  11.  —  List  of  Guass-j  iki:  liirsirKs.     (,// 


uncacew.) 


ConiniDii  Nuim . 

lliilry  \Vi„«|  Kn^ii,     , 
!<nmll  \V,„„|  Kii,),, 
<'<iriiiiii)ii  WoikI  Itu.^li, 
I'liiiittd  HiiHli,     .    , 
Brimii  HumIi 

S<lft  UllHh 

SleiiiliT  Kusli,  .... 
Haltif  Uush,  .... 
Bristly  Ki,9h,  .... 

Sea  Kiisli, 

I'ale  KuHh, 

Ori'uii  Hush,    .... 

Weak  Iliiah,     .... 

Sharp-fniiteil  Rusli,   . 

Ur.iwni.sli-fiiiiUMl  Kiisli,  . 

Marshal  Husli,    .    .    .    . 

Kouiid-licadwl  Kusli,     . 

Coniad's  JUisli,  .    .    .    . 

Orasg-leavcil  Kusli,    .    . 

Long-fruited  Hush,     .    . 
Three-lcaved  Rush,    .    . 

Toad  Uush, 

Slender  Rush, 

Ore.'ni''s  Rush,    .    .    .    . 
Black  Oiass,    . 


.Sy«ti'niulii'  Niiinu. 

I  l-u/.ula  piloBu,  .    ,    .    , 
J  l.u/.ula  parvlllora, .   . 
I.ii/.ula  eiiinpcstrls,     , 
I  l.iizula  iircuata,   .    .    . 
I  l.uzida  splcala,    .    .    , 
.liuiiMis  clnisus,    .    .    . 
■Iiiiieus  tilif(]riiiis,    .    . 
.luneus  lialtieus,  .    .    . 
.luneus  setaL-'us,    ,    , 
■'uncuii  umrltliiuis,     . 
Juiieus  selriKiHlfs,  .    . 
Juneus  paradoxu.J, 
.luiieus  delillls,    .    . 
tluiicus  aeutnliiatus, 
.luiiC'-H  arliciilalus,     . 

jihiiiens  iiiilitai'is,  .  . 
Juncus  nod(,su3,  .  .  , 
.huieurt  Ciinradi,     .    . 

.luncus  ■iiargiuatus,   . 

Juncus  Styjilus,  .   .    . 

•luncus  trifidus,  .    .   .    , 

.luncus  hufonius,     .    . 

.luncus  ti'iuiia,     .    .    .    . 

.I.mcus  Oivenei,  .    .    .    . 

Juncus  Inillxwus,    .   . 


'liihi'df 
KlimiTlng. 

>i"y,  .  .  . 

,-'''iy,  .  .  . 

■M»y,  .  .  . 


.lurie, 
July, 
July, 


July,    . 
•Au){U.st, 


•li'ly,   .   .    . 
•'"ly,  Auk., 

•'•>iy,  .  .  . 

July,  .  .  . 

•'«'iy,  .  .  . 

•I'liy,  .  .  . 

July,  .  .  . 

I  A  "Bust,  .    , 


i'lucenfOniwlh. 

,    Ujieii  woods,  bunks. 
,     Miiuntains. 
,     Kidds,  dry  himxIs. 
•Miiuntains. 
■Moinitains. 
.    Swamps,  ci.nuniMi 
.    Wet  hunks. 
.    Sandy  shores. 
On  tlic  coast. 
Salt  inai-shes. 
Wet  hanks, 
.l^ivanips. 
Wet  sHiinips. 
H"KKy  swamps. 
^>et  places. 
.Sandy  hoffs. 
Itorders  nf  rivers, 
llorders  of  pomls. 
.^loist,  sandy  swamjis. 
I'eat  swamps. 
•Mountain  sunuiiits. 
Fjow  friiiunds,  roadsides. 
Unv  (.'rounds,  fields, 
(f'andy  salt  marshes, 
llorders  salt  marshes. 


The  most  prominent  and  valuable  of  these  plants  i.s 

lilt/ 

Blaci.   Ghass   (,/uncus  /mlhosus,yav.geranli),nu  in- 
hab,  ant    of  salt   marshes.      This    plant    has  a  simple 
slemler  stem,  somewhat  flattened,  from  one  to  two  feet 
high      It   18  considered  the  best  product  of  the  salt 
marshes,  and  grows  most  luxuriantly  along  uieir  borders 
wliicli  arc   only  occasionally  overflowed  bv  the  tides' 
often  working  its  way  to  the  uplands,  where  the  seed  i< 
scattered,  m  large  quantities,  in  curing.     It  should  be 
rut  early,  and,  when  well  cured,  is  thought  to  be  nearlv 
equal  m  value   to  good  English   hay.     Though  not  of 
Itself  equal    m   value,   weight    for    wei<,.ht.   to  "  ^ron.e 


TUK    STAK     (iKASSKS. 


mo 


grass     (  Gh,cn-ki  innndma),  yot  the  imnhu't  per  Mm-  js 
s<.  mucl,  larger  us  to  make  it  a  more  .lesinihle  n,,,, 

1  here  IS  also  a  smali  fUmily  ol'  phii.ts  railed  the  yel- 
low-eyed  grasses,  or  the  star  grasses,  consisting' of 
only  two  speeies,  the  first  of  which  is  the  Y^;  row- 
KVKi)  Grass  {Xi/ris  bnllma),  flowering  in  July,  Angn^t 
H.Hl  .S.pten.her,  growing  on  sandy  and  peatv  soils.  .,..1 
I'ogs  near  the  eoast :  an.l  the  second,  the  Common  Vn- 
Lou-Kv,.;n  (Jhass  (Xy/v-.v  caroJi„k,ua),  flowering  in 
Angust,  on  sat.dy  swau.f.s.  These  are  beautilul  grasses 
but  of  no  special  agricultural  value.  ' 

The  sedges  and  plants  constituting  the  coarse  and 
innutntious  herbage,  properly  included  in  the  ter.n 
CAHEX,  forma  large  and  prominent  genus  of  .-ra.s-like 
plants,  consisting  in  all  of  about  four  hundred  and  fifty 
species  known  to  botanists,  extensively  diffused  over 
Hi  the  dan.p  j.arts  of  the  globe,  and  in  popular  language 
called  grasses.  ^     ^ 

The   roots   of  the  sedges  are  perennial,  and  .o,  the 
most   part  creeping,  a  few   l,eing  tufted  and   fibrous 
1  he  stems  are  simple  and  free   from  joints  or  nodes 
1  he  leaves  are  linear,  flat,  pointed,  roughish  on  the  sur- 
tace,  and  sharp  on  the  edges. 

A  few  species  of  carex  grow  on  sandy  hills  and  alouff 
the  sea-shore;  but  most  inhabit  marshe;,  wet  meadows^ 
swamps,  and  the  low,  wet  banks  of  streams  and  ditches 
and  mo.st  woods.  None  of  them  are  of  any  real  agri' 
cultural  value,  though  they  constitute  mainly  what  is 
termed  -meadow  hay,"  or  more  properly  swale  hay  in 
some  parts  of  the  country.  They  are  nearly  desti- 
tute of  mealy  and  saccharine  principles,  in  which  many 
of  tiie  true  grasses  abound,  ;>,ud  are  eaten  by  cattle  only 
when  compelle.l  by  hungor,  in  the  wane  of  better 
grasses.     It  not  unfre(,uently   happens,  however,  that 


Hi 


lil 


f  I 


200 


I^IST     OK    SEDGES. 


ce    .,      "'""^""^f  "-  1"«''--  S,'iHsso«  among  tl,o 

lowi  ,„o,uio»,  ,h„  „i,i,„  top,  „,.„„,„;,■„,;'„;;;;' 

-I"-"-  lJO«,.css„,g  higl,..,-  „„(,.;„■„  ,,„alit,V.s;    ,„„!  ll,o„ 
"    -"..ive,  tl.o  l,.y  ,„ade  lr.„„  tl.o  ,,val..  is  prop,,,-,;.,, .' 

\.»lue  ioi-  winter  fodder. 

'''lie  sedges  are  arninged  in  tlie  following  table  : 

Table  IH. 


-List  op  Ca rices  or  Sedges.    {Cyperacec,.) 


OmiirKiri  N'liriu-. 

Yellow  Dwarf  Sedjie, 
lliiinilrnsSc.>il(.'c,  . 
Niutall's  Seilfic,  . 
Brown  t<eilfre,  .    .    . 
Chestmit  i-^-dce,  ,    , 
Miehiuix's  Scil^'u,   . 
Kiitri-liimmiV  Si-il).'c, 
llrisllc-s|iiki.-il  (fiiliiifr 
I)warlOil()i-.]in(ialii|i; 
Pointed  Sed/i-,     . 
flrei-n  .'^edf:o,    .    .    .    . 
Tnottiwl  Galinpile,     . 

Nut  (iras!i 

<ira.v's  GaliuKale,  .  . 
Straw  Sfdcc,  .  .  .  . 
Sfhwi-initz's  Oalingalc, 
Ovate  ISe(l;,'e,  .  .  .  . 
Hent  .s.-dj;,.,  .... 
M'h-y  S,-dfre,  .... 
H'lnndhcid  Sed^e,  .  . 
I'niii-lnurn,    .    , 


Ilwarf  ll-rnicarplia,    . 

H.irsetail  Knsli,  .   .   . 

QuadranL'idar  Hnsli,  . 

T.ilMreliil  Spike-nish. 
i>litii»e.Spiki>rn<li,  . 
<'in:;nioii  Spike-nisli,  . 
Olive  .«pike-rii.«li,  . 
Ilrake  Spike-rush,  , 
-MediaU'  ^pike-riisli,  , 
Slender  C'liih-rii<h, 


Systi-inutie  .\niiic. 

<'.V|ierus  llavescens,    . 

|(>l'i'riisdiandrus,  .    . 

K'.vperus  Niittallil,  .    . 

i  <'ypeni3  flavjconius,  . 

jL'yperiiserytlirorlilzds. 

Cvpenis  ^licliau.xianns, 

Cy|)erus  Kn^elmanni, 

•'.vperusslrijidsus,  .    . 

''y perns  infle.xiis,   .   . 

•'yperua  acuiniiiatus, 
ICyperua  u'rens,  .   .   .   , 
'  <'y perns  dentatus,  . 

Cyperns  riitundus,     , 
'^yiierns  Orayii,  .... 
t'yperns  pli.vmatodes,    . 
Cypej-ns  i^chweinitzii,    . 
Cypenis  (ivniaris,   .    . 
Cyperns  retrofractns, 
Cyperns  lilicnlniis,     , 
Kyllinjria  pnmila,  .    .    , 
Dnlic-liinni  spatliacenni, 
lleniiearjilia      sulisipiar- 


Kleoc-liaris  eipn'set.jides, 

Kleocliaris      .inadiMn-u. 

j      lata 

Kleiieliaris  tuberculosa, 
I  Klencharis  (ibtusa,  .  .  . 
Kleneliaris  palustris,  .  . 
Kleiieliaris  njivaeea,  .  . 
Kleiicliaris  nwtellata,  . 
-.leiM'liaris  intermedia,  . 
Kleooliaris  tennis.   .    , 


Time  (if 
Itlijssoming. 

I'luei'  of  Growth 

•    iAuR.,  . 

-    .    1  llojjs. 

•   i  Aujj.,  . 

-    . 

Wet  grounds, 

•  {Aug.,. 

Salt  marshes. 

■   1  Aug.,  . 

liow  grounds. 

■   'Au^'.,  . 

Sandy  banks. 

S    JAUf.',,  . 

■    •     .Marslies. 

— 

I'liw  banks. 

Au?.,  . 

-    Swamps. 

AUR.,  . 

Hiver  banks. 

— 

Low  grounds. 

— 

Wet  places. 

■     An^',  . 

Sandy  swamps. 

— 

''andy  fields. 

Au?.,  .    . 

-     Harren  soils. 

All?.,  .    . 

-     -Along  rivers. 

Au(.'.,  .    . 

-   (Shorts  of  lakes. 

I  Sept.,  .    . 

•     Sandy  soils. 

lAuf.'.,  .    . 

.     .Simly  soils. 

Anc, .    , 

I'r.v  barrens. 

'.Aui:.,   .    . 

•     '-"W  grounds. 

|Auk.,  .    . 

-     .Around  ponds. 

'.'Illy,  .  . 

■    ;  >Vet  sands. 

_ 

iSballow  water. 

— 

Low  grounds. 

'Aub',.    . 

.Xandy  swamps. 

-lune,   .    . 

AUL'.,    .     . 

Hogs,  borders  .if  pond* 
Swamps. 

An-.,   .    . 

1  ^Vet,  sandy  places. 

— 

1  .Marshes. 

All?.,       .    . 

Wet  places. 

.)i 

'if,  -    .    . 

W 

et  [ilaccs 

''1ST     OF    SKDGKS. 


201 


Common  Name. 

'I'lift.'il  Kusli,    .    .    . 

Iliiii'k  Cliil)-rusli,     . 

I'l;it  Strm-nisl],  .    . 

11  ililiiris'sCliili-rusli, 

Mail'  ('liil)-nisli,  .    . 

llwiirf  Spiki'-iiisli,  . 

Tlircadlike  Rush,    . 

f^'-aly  ('hil).nisli,     . 

Kl.it  Cliili-nisl].    .    .    , 

FInatiiiir  <'liili-riisli, 
niair-liott.iin  Hush,    . 

<»lll>'y's  Uiisl 

T.invy's  Kusli,     .    .    . 

Hulnisli, 

Wcak-stiMii  liiisli,  . 
Si'a  liiilnish,     .... 
Kiver  IJiisli,     .... 

Wood  Husl 

<'lii9tci--lica,l  Kiisli,  . 
Vnrwv's  Iliisli,  .  .  . 
Wool  Grass,  .... 
Cotton  Oraas,  .... 

Haro'.-i.tail, 

Kusty  Cotton  (Iniss.  . 


Syitcmutii'  XiiMii.. 


'rinic  of 
iJloNHoinjng, 


I'luccM)r(;r()Hiii. 


Hroail  Cotton  (Irass,  . 

Xan-ow  Cotton  (Jniss, 
'J'all  FiniliristyhV, 
Spirailin;,'  Finiliristylh 
'J'nftcd  Finilii-istylis, 
Ilair-liko  Kimhristylls, 
I'nihi-clla  (ir.iss, 

liald  lUisli, 

Dieliomena, 


Horned  llusli, 


Chisterod  Hush,  .    . 

Wrinkli'd  lioak-nish, 
Torrey's  lieak-rn.sh. 
Drooping'  liwik-rusli,  . 
Uniwn  Urak-nisli,  . 
i^lt'nder  lieak-nisli, 
Wliitc  licak-rnsh, 
!^i"all  licak-nish. 

Tufted  Koak-rnsh,  . 

Common  ncnk-niyh.  . 


•  •    Kleochari.'*  eonipr-ssa, 

■  •     Kleocliaris  .Melanoearpi 

•  •     Kleocliaris  tritMjstata,  . 

■  •     KlecK'liaris  Kohlansii, 

•  •   '  Kleocliaris  aoicnlaris,     , 

■  •     Kleocliaris  pyj.'miea,   ,   . 

•  •     Klt^^ocliaristilicnlmis,  .    . 

•  ■    Scirpns  ca'sjiitosns,    .    , 

•  ■    f^cirpns  planifolins,     . 

•  •    Scirpns  snhterniinalis,  . 

■  •    t^cirpns  puiifiens,    .    .   . 

•  ■    Scirpns  OIneyl,    .... 

■  ■    ^'irpns  T(]rreyi,  .... 
'    •    .Scirpns  lacnstris,    . 

■    Scirpns  deliilis 

•  Scirjins  inaritiinns,     . 

•  Scirpns  tlnviatilis,  .   , 

•  Scirpns  .sylvaticns.      . 

•  Scirpns  polyphyihis,  .    , 

•  Scirpns  lincatns,     .    . 

•  Scirpus  Kriopliornni,  .    . 

•  KrioplKirnni  .\l|iiinnii,   . 

■  Kriopliornni  va^riiiatnin, 

•  Kri.iplKirnni  Virf.'inicniii 
Kriopliiirnin    polystacliy 

on,      

■  Kriopliornni  Kmcile,  .  , 
.  Kiiiiliristylis  spadicea,  . 
,     Fimliristylis  Ia.\a,   . 

•  '•'i'liliristylisantnmalis,  . 
.    Kiniliristylis  capillaris, 
-    Kniivna  scpiarrosa,     . 

l'siloi';irya  scirpoides, 
I>iclionieiia  lencocejiliala, 
Ceratosclin'iius    cornicn- 

i     ■'"'• 

CeratoschuMins    niacros- 

'•''•■liyii 

HhyiKliospora  cymosii,  . 
ItliyndiosporaTorreyana 
ItliyiK'liospora  incxpansa, 
Hliyncliospora  fnsca,  . 
Kliyncliosporatrracilenta, 
Rliynoliospnra  alba,  .  . 
Rliynchospora  capillacea, 
UliynohosiKira  Kniosker- 
nii, ~ 

TiliyiichosporaglomcTata,  July, 


—  Wet  places. 

~  Wet  sands. 


.Inly, 
■Jniie, 
.\n" 

•'"ly, 

.June,  . 
Ai.K.,  . 
J"'-,    . 


•  •'my, 
■   ''"ly, 

.Inly, 
July, 
.Inly, 
.Inly, 
An-, 

•>iay,  . 

•Iniie,  . 

.  ''"ly,  . 

.Inno,  . 

.luly,   . 

I  Auk.,  . 
'Auf.'.,  . 
Sept.,  . 
Au).'.,  . 
Anjr.,  . 
.Inly,  . 
An^.,  . 


•Inly,   . 

•I'liy,  . 

■'lily,  . 


•  •     I'oiids,  ditclien. 

.Muddy  liaiiks. 
■    Salt  niarslies. 
Wet  '  arrens. 

•  ■    Wet  mountains. 

■  .     Woods,  lio^s. 

•  ■    Sln^'frisli  streams. 

•  •    Salt  and  fresh  marshes. 

•  •  '."'alt  marshes. 

■  •  '  "orders  of  ponds. 

■  ■    Mnddy  places. 

•  ■    Borders  of  rivers. 

•  •    ;^ilt  marshes. 

■  •     Holders  of  lakes. 

■  ■    Wet  meadows. 

■  ■    Swamps,  shady  hordera. 

•  •       IlOL'S. 

) 

•  •  ^\  et  meadows,  swarajx. 

•  '  I'eat  swamps. 

•  .Mos-;y  swamps.     . 

•  Swamps. 

■  Hoiriry  meadows. 

•  -flossy  swamps. 

■  Salt  marslies. 

•  Wet  clays. 

•  Low  {.'rounds. 

•  SaiKly  fields. 

•  .Siiidy,  wet  places. 

•  Inundated  swamps. 

•  Moist  harrens. 

'  Horilers  of  ponds. 

Horders  of  ponds. 

liow  (.'rounds. 
I'ine  harrens. 
Low  grounds. 
I  Low  (.'rounds. 
L(JW  (.'rounds. 
Mossy  swamps. 
Swamps,  marshes. 

Ifoj.',  iron-ore  banks. 
,  Bo(.').'y  (.'rounds. 


PROVINCIAL  LIBRARY. 
VICTORIA,  B.  C. 


i 

i      -l 

! 

^    1  • 

202 


LIST    OF    SEDGES. 


M 


^      jl 


CoillMKiri  \iinit>. 

Itciiind  Buak-ru.sli,  .    , 

finootli  Tui(,'.iusli,  . 
Wtiij)  (irass,     .    .    .    . 

Si-ssili-  Xut-:-iisli,  .  . 
Lciiisc  Nut-nish,  .  .  . 
Ki'\v-llii\ver«l  Niit-riis 

Dwaif  Nut-rush, 

Sliort-heaktMl  Sedge,  . 

J^li'iiilcr  t^eilKe,     .    .    . 

Alpine  .Sedfje,  .    ,    .    . 

finiiill-liead  Sedfie,  .    . 

Few-llowered  .Sedge,  . 

Itristle-stalked  Sedge, 

Fi'uzer'H  Sedge,    .    .    . 

Willdeiiow'.s  Seilge,     . 

Ki)Ugli-l)eak  Sedge,     . 

Baek'a  Sedge,  .... 

Two-seeded  Sedge,  .    . 

Lung-rooted  Sedge,     . 

Oval-lieaded  Sedge,    . 

Muldeiiherg'.s  Sedge,  . 

BiW-^^pikeJ  Sedge,  .    . 

Uiise  Sedge, 

Ketiofle.xed  Sedge,     . 

Bur-ieed  Sedge,  .    .    . 

Awl-fruited  Sedge,     . 

Fo.\  Sedge, 

Bristly-spiked  Sedge, 

Briiniu3-like  Sedge,     . 

Fo.xtail  Sedge,     .    .    . 
Sartwell's  Sedge,     .    . 
Lesser-panicled  Sedge, 
liarge-paiiicled  Sedge, 
Three-seeded  .Sedge,  . 
Dewey's  Sedge,   .    .    , 
^V^lite  Care.x,  .... 
Little  I'riekly  .Sedge,  . 
Cluster-spiked  Sedge, 
Br(K)ni-|ike  Sedge,  .    . 
Straw-colored  Sedge,  . 
l»rig-8talked  Sedge,  . 
y<|uare-hea(led  Sedge,    , 
Buximum's  Sedge,  .    .    , 
Three-headed  Sedge,      . 
Green-spiked  Sedge,  .    . 
Slender  Nodding  Sedge, 

Showy  Sedge, 

R.ivls's  .Sedge,     .    .    .    . 


;         Systeniutic  .Niimc. 

Khyiiehiispdra  cei)lialan 
tha, 

.    Cladinni  n)ariseoide9,     . 
Seleria  triglonierata,  .    . 

.    Seleria  retieularis,  .    .    . 

.    Seleria  laxa, 

I,     Seleria  paucillora,  .    .    . 

.    Si'leria  vertieillata,  .    .    . 

.    Carex  gyniK'rates,  .    .    . 

.    Carex  exilis, 

.  Carex  scirpoidea,  .  .  . 
.  Carex  capitata,  .  .  .  . 
.  Carex  ijaueiflura,  .  .  . 
.  Carex  polytrichoides,  . 
.  Carex  Fraseriana,  .  .  . 
.  Carex  Willdenovii,  .  . 
.  Carex  stendelii,  .... 
.  Carex  Backii,  ..... 
.  Carex  disperma,  .  .  . 
.  Carex  ehordorhiza,  .  . 
.  Carex  eephaloiihura,  .  . 
.    Carex  Mulilenlxrgii,  .    . 

Carex  sicala, 

Carex  losea, 

Carex  retroflexa,    .    . 
.    Carex  sparganicjides,    . 
Carex  stipata,     .... 

,  Carex  vulpinoidea,     .    . 

Carex  setacea,    .... 

Carex  broinoides,    .    .    . 

Carex  alopecoiilea,      .    . 

Carex  Sartwellii,     .   .    . 

,  Carex  terctiu.scula,     .    . 

Carex  deeoniposita,    .    . 

Carex  trispernia,    .    .    . 

Carex  Deweyana,  .    .   . 

Carex  canescetjs,     ,    . 

Carex  stellulata,     .    .    . 

Carex  tenuiflora,    . 

Carex  scoparia,  .   . 

Carex  straniinea,    . 

Carex  pednneidata, 

Carex  s(|iiiirriisa,     . 

Carex  Buxhauniii,  . 

Carex  triceps,  .    .    . 

Carex  virescens,     . 

Carex  gracillinm,    . 

Carex  formnsa,    .   . 

Carex  iJavisii,      .    . 


Tilrie  of 
BloHAOiniiig 

I'lmidf  Urowtli. 

1  Aug.,  .    .    . 

.Sandy  swamps. 

July,    .    .    . 

Borders  of  ponds. 

•Lily.   .   .   . 

Swamps,  moist  thickets 

lAug.,  .    .    . 

.Sandy  swamps. 

1  Aug.,  .    .    . 

Sandy  swamps. 

Jul,v,    .    .  .. 

Swamps,  hills. 

.luiie,  .    .    . 

Swam|is. 

— 

Swamiis. 

•'une,  .    .    . 

Marshe,^. 

— 

Mountani  tops. 

■Inly,  .    .    . 

.Mountain  tops. 

— 

I'eat  swamps. 

May,    .    .    . 

Low  ground,  woods. 

— 

Kieli  wiHids. 

•May,   .    .    . 

.Moisl,  shady  places. 

;           — 

Woody  hills. 

1 

Kocky  hills. 

;.Iuiic,  .   .   . 

.Mossy  swamps. 

i.May,    .    .    . 

.Mos.sy  swatnps. 

May,   .    .    . 

Ilill-sides  and  fields. 

April,  .    .    . 

Koeky  liill-sides. 

Sanily  plains. 

May,   .   .    . 

Moist  woinIs. 

May,   .    .    . 

Open  wowls,  swamps. 

May,   .   .   . 

Ijow,  swampy  grounds. 

April,.    .    . 

Swamps,  low  grounds. 

May,    .    .    . 

Low  grounds,  common. 

.June,  .    .    . 

Wet  meadows. 

May,    .    .    . 

Wet  swamps. 

— 

Woods. 

.lune,  .    .   .  Swamps,  common. 

—  Swamps, 
.tune,  ...  I'eat  swamps, 
.lune,  .    .    .  Moist  wikhIs. 
.May,    .    .    .  Wet  meadows. 
May,   .    .    .  Wet  meadows, 
.lune,  .    .    .  Mossy  swamps. 

—  Wet  meadows. 
May,   .    .    .  Borders  of  woods. 
April,  .    .    .  Kocky  liills. 
.May,    .    ,    .  f,,„v  nieadows,  thickets. 
.May,   .    .    .  .Mossy  swamps. 
May,   .    .    .  Woods,  meadows. 
May,   .    .    .  WoiKls,  liill-sldcg. 
.lune,  .    .    .  Moist  grounds. 
May,   .    .    .  Wet  meadows. 
May,   .    ,    .  Swamps,  river  banks. 


LIST    OF    SEDGKS. 


203 


■th. 


licketd. 


Coninion  Numc. 


Systi'iiiiitic  Kuiiio 


Is. 


lis. 


iimld. 

LIUlli. 
IIIOU. 


keti. 


Ri'tricl  SimIkc, 

l/.ii'Kf  Hog  .Sedgu,    .    .    . 
.'^iriiiller  Hog  .Sodge,    . 

Water  Sedge, 

•  lolden-fruitod  Sedge, 
Ki'inged  Sedge,    .... 
K'-w-fniitcd  .«e(lge. 
Inflated  Sedge,    .... 
('.Vliiiilrical-spikod  Sedge, 
Hladder-fiuiied  Sedge,  . 
AHl-fiiiite(18edge,  ,    .    . 
Tall  Vellinv  Seilge,  .    .    , 
Swdlleii-frultoil  Sedge,   . 

Hdi)  Sedge, 

K"Ugli-fniited  .Sedge,      . 
S<'lnveinU/.'s  Sedge, 
Late-fruited  .Sedge,     . 
I^ng.pointed  Sedge,  .    . 
Porcuiiiiie  Sedge,    . 
f  yperus-like  Sedge,    . 
Ix)ng.l)eaked  Sedge,   . 
Hairy-fruited  Sedge,  .    . 
Awned  Sedge,  .... 
I'mbel-spikcd  Sedge, 
I'ennsylvanian  Sedge,    . 
New  Knglaml  Sedge.  .    . 
Slender-leaved  Sedge,    . 
Wi)()lly-fruited  Sedge,    . 
Sh't  VVi)olly-spik'd  Sedge, 
l'ul«!scent  Sedge,    .   .   . 
Mud  Sedge,  ...'... 

Livid  Sedge, 

Large  Vellow  Oare.v, .   . 

•  Kder's  Sedge, 

I'ale  I'uheseent  Sedge,  . 
Torrey's  Sedge,   .... 

Striated  Sedge 

Oranular-spiked  Sedge, 
Loose-flowered  Sedge,  . 
Coiiienl-frulted  Sedge,  . 
Slender  Wmnl  Sedge,  . 
Ilitchoock's  Sedge,  .  . 
Small  Few-frnited  Sedge, 
Crooked-necked  Sedge,  . 
Two-edged  Sedge,  ,  .  . 
Palo,  Smootli  .Sedge,  .    . 

Cniwe's  Sedge 

Plantain-lcnvel  .Pledge,  . 
Carey's  Sedge,     .... 


Cnrex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
■  Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
j  Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 
Carex 


rigidii,    .    .    .    . 
augu.-itata,    .    . 
ca;si)iti)sa|     .    . 
aquatilis,  .    .    . 
aurea,    .   .   .   . 
crinita,  .    .    .    . 
olignspernia,    . 
bullata,     .    .    . 
cylinilrica,    .    . 
utriculata,    .    . 
sul)ulata,  .    .    . 
folllculata,    .    . 
inluniescens,    . 
lupulina,    .    .    . 
seahrata,  .    .    . 
!<eliweinitzii,    . 
retrorsa,    .    .    . 
teiitacMlata,  .    . 
Iiystrleina,    .    . 
I'seudd-Cyperus 
longiriistris, 
triclioearpa, 
aristala,    .    .    . 
uniliellata,    .    . 
I'ennsylvanica, 
Xovii'-.-Vnglia', 
liliforniis,  .   .    . 
lanuginosa,  .   . 
vestita,  .... 
puliescens,   . 
limosa,  .... 
livida,    .... 

tiava 

(Kderi 

pallc'seens,  .  .  . 
Tjrre.vi,     .    .    .    . 

striata,  

granularis,   .   .    . 

laxiflora 

conoidea,  .  .  .  . 
digitalis,  .  .  .  . 
Ilitclicockiana,  . 
oligwarpa,  .  .  . 
tetainca,  .  .  .  . 
anoeps,     .    .    .    , 

blanda, 

Cniwei,  ,  .  ,  . 
plantaginea,  .  . 
Careyana,    .   .    . 


Time  of 
Blossoming. 

.  .Inly,  .  .  . 
.  May,  .  .  . 
.  May.  .  .  . 
,     Inne,  .    .    . 

May,    .    .    . 

.May,    . 

June,  . 

May,   . 

May,  . 
May,  . 
June,  . 
June,  . 
June,  , 
May,  . 
May,  . 
May,  . 
May,  . 
June,  . 
June,  . 
June,  . 
June,  . 


Place  of  Growth. 


Mountain  summits. 

Swamps,  common. 

Swamps,  river  bank.^. 

Hcjrders  of  lakes. 

llorders  of  swamps. 

Swanii)s,  river  banks. 

Alountains,  swamps. 

Swamps. 
Swamps. 
Wet  swamps. 
Cedar  swamps. 
Swamps,  bogs. 
Wet  grounds. 
Swamps. 

Horders  of  brooka. 
Swamps. 
Borders  of  ponds. 


•    Swamps. 
■    Swamps 

Sw'ps,  sluggish  streams. 
.Sliady,  rocky  places. 
Marshes  and  lakes. 
—  fjake  shores. 

.    May,   .    .    .    Kocky  hill-sides. 
,     April,  .    .    .     Dry  woods. 

June,  .    .    .     W ly  hills. 

.May,   .    .    .    I'eiit  swamps. 
May,   .    .    .    Swamps. 
May,   .    .    .    Moist,  sandy  soils. 
May,   ...    Woods,  swamps. 
June,.    .   .    Mos.sy  swami)s. 
June,.   .    .    Mossy  swamps. 
May,   .    .   .    Swami)s. 
May,  ...    Limestone  lands. 
JMay,  .   .   .    .Swamps. 

—  Northward. 

May,   .   .    .    Swamps. 
-May,   .    .    .    Wet  swamps. 
>Iay,   .    .    .    Swamps,  moist  woods. 
May,    .    .    .    Wet  swamps. 
.May,   .    .    .    Woods,  hill-sides. 
Alay.   .    .    .    WoihIs,  hill-sides. 
I  May,   .   .    .    Woods. 
I  May,   .   .    .    Margin  of  lakes. 
May,    .    .    .    Wo<ids. 
J  May.   .    .    .    Swamps,  open  Woods. 

—  Ivink:*  of  rivers. 

April,  .    ,        Shady,  roi'ky  ravines. 
•^lay,       .    .    Shady,  ilry  woods. 


■  i 


204 


lii:CLAI.MI.\(;     SWAMP     LANDS. 


CuhMnon  .N'liiiH' 


>*.V8ti'iiiuti(!  Nanii'. 


Hn.M-l,.aM  Whito  ScmIro,   r„,vx  fhiirnea, 

Kni.K^a  8o,lKe jCaivx  ll^Mlis,     .    . 

M,'t-lH.ak',l  \\\ y  .s,,|j,e,  carex  arctata, 

"'■'"'*'"''-"■ OaR.x  .l.hili.   .    . 

.M,ll..t.|,kc.  8o,lK,.,    .    .    .   :Ca,.ex,nilia,va,  .        '    ' 

'""''■ ''''■'''-'^' Carux  U.,;»stri»,  .    . 

r.u.ken„aM's  S..,lK..,  .    .     .■a,-,,x  Tu.k.Tmani,    .    . 

,^,^"'';"'*-''""'^^'''«'-'--    •  ,Carex  Waslm.gtoniana, 

*"■'>-'"•••'>'% Carex  (ii-ayii,  .   .   . 

"'"■' ''^■''«^' |l'art.xac..ta,    .   .   . 

'^'^  ^''"■'-'■''•' lCa.exa.VMaria,.   .   . 


Tiiiif  lit 
HI(KSKiirnii)^r, 


Place  of  Growth. 


May,    .    .    , 

LiiiiestdiK'  liills. 

Jiirii-,  .    .    . 

•Moist,  shady  places 

•May,    .    .    . 
May,    .    .    . 
May.    .    .    . 
June,  .   .    , 

Woods,  s\vaini)8. 

Moods,  swamps. 
Wet  swiinips. 
Deep  swamps. 

— 

Wet  swamps. 

July,   .   .    . 

Mt.  Wasliliifrtoii, 
Swamps. 

— 

I>eiise  liofjs. 

Juilf,  .Inly. 

Saiiily  sea-shores. 

J  I.o  al.ove  table  .nchules  nearly,  if  not  ,,uite,  all  the 
spaces  o  sedges  known  and  described  as'g,.o;ving  in 
tins  c-ountry,  .tnd  ,s  thongl.t  to  be  very  complete. 

As  alrea.k  ,nti.nate,l,  none  (  f  these  coarse  sedges  are 
n.-hn.  nutritive  elements,  and  none  are  worthv  of  eul- 
t.vat.on.    1  he  tanner's  care  s.N.ouM  be  to  eradica'te  them 
and  snpply  their  places  with  the  higher  and  more  nufi' 
t.ous  grasses.    This  may  be  done  by  thorongh  draining 
an  operation  which  lies  at  the  foundation  of  all  success' 
iul  management  of  low  lands,  and  without  which  thev 
are    comparatively    worthless,    while,    if    properly    r^- 
claimed,  they  are  among  the  best  and  most  productive 
iands  on  the  farm. 

When  proi,erly  improved,  and  sown  to  the  hidier 
and  better  grasses,  like  Timothy.  ,vdt.,p,  orchard  gr.s. 
rough-stalked  meadow,  A'c,  they  will  produce  the  most' 
■  uxuriant  crops  for  several  years  in  succession,  often 
paying  the  cost  of  improvemeiit  the  first  year.  Lcnv 
groun.ls  and  swamps  are  the  farmer's  muck-beds.  Thou- 
sands of  Mcres  of  such  land.;  now  lie  worthless  and 
unproductive,  waiting  only  to  be  reclaimed  to  add  vastly 
to  the  material  wealth  of  the  country. 


..kiS 


CHAPTER     V. 

VARIOUS     CLASS, KICATIONS    OF    THE    GRASSES. 

Many  ot'  the  passes  which  have  been  descril,e,|  in 
f''^  Preeeduig-  chapters  possess  but  little  vah.e  for  the 
P-rposes  ot  cultivation,  it  is  true,  but  it  should  not  be 
t'>i«J)tten  that  they  all  have  their  uses  ;  and  these  uses 
'"  the  o.mn.l  economy  of  nature  are  exceedindv  ini- 
vision.  ''  ""^  '""'  '"^'^'''"'  '"  '•"^'  «"'"^-t-igl.tod 

iJl^T  '"'"^^^,  "P  1^  ^''^'  '^""'■^i'^  -•  expands  its 
l^eau t.ful  leaves,  that  does  not  derive  its  support  in 
Pcirt  from  the  atnu.sphere  :  and,  even  though  its  lile  be 

of    egetable  n.ould  which   covers   the  surface  of  the 

mould  h.f  r' '"  '^^'r- '''  '^'^  ^«''-  ^j^''-  --'^-^ 

mould  has  been  accumulating  tor  ages  in  many  loeali- 

hat  surrounded  It  was  stored,  wlii.-h  now  lie  waiti,.- 
the  farmers  use  in  meadows  of  exhaustle.ss  ferti  i        n 

w   l,.I.  •     T""  ^"  ^Wrec-inte.     Thus,  the  gras.e. 

l^'ch  are  not  cultivated  for  their  direct  m  fritive  nu.  1 

caretul  study  and  attention. 

It  is  evident  that  various  olassification<  of  the  .n-r -e. 
m^  be  made,  and  that  many  species  might  be  se;;;::^ 


200 


THE    JUNGLE    (JltASS. 


into  distinct  -roups,  which  would  gr.nitly  facih'tate  the 
study  of  this  iuuiily  of  plants  ;  and  this  da.sifi.-ati  ,n 
tlK3  ivador  can  readily  make,  at  In's  cuuveiiience.  As  an 
example,  we  have 

I.  The  Jii'SH  or  Jux(;le  Grasses,  or  such  as  are  not 
inehned  to  grow  with  other  speei,>s,  and  form  a  close, 
matted  tud  or  sward.  Of  these  we  have  as  exampieJ 
the  ^ 

Tufted  JIair  tJrass  (Jira  ca'spifosn) . 
Meadow  Oat  Grass  [Jvena  prntcnds). 
Tall  Fescue  Grass  {Festuca  datior). 
A  fev,  others,  if  sown  alone,  will  assume  somewhat 
the  same  form,  ni  tufts  or  cushions;  as, 
Sheef)'s  Fescue  {Fcstncn  ovina). 
Hard  Fescue  {Fe.^tnva  durlusmla). 
Orchard  Grass  {Dadylis  (jhmerata). 
This    peculiarity   in    the   growth    of  the   last   three 
grasses   is   prevented   by  close  pasturing,   rolling,  and 
proper  cultivation.      These  operations   improve  upon 
nature   suK-e,  if  left  to  themselves,  they  would  far  more 
c-ertanily  assume  the  jungle  growth,  such  as   is  often 
seen  on  poor,  thin  pasture  soils  :  a  close,  fine,  matted 
SH^rd  being  attained  only  by  careful  cultivation. 

J  he   habit- of  jungle   or  tufted  growth  is,  it  will  be 
perceived,  rather  an  exceptional  one,  the  general  and 
one  of  the  most  important  characteristics  of  the  true 
grasses  being  to  grow  and  form  a  turf  on  good  soils 
3Iany  of  the   sedges  and  some  of  the   coarse    grasses     ' 
form    tussocks   in  wet   meadows   and    swamnv  T.laces 
while  neither  wheat,  rye,  barley,  nor  oats,  evJr  form  a 
close  turf  or  sward. 

A  little  reflection  will  lead  to  the  conclusion  that  it  is 
rnainly  the  better  and  more  valuable  grasses,  such  as 
1  imothy,  redtop,  meadow  foxtail,  June  grass,  .fee,  which 


ASIATICS.— SALT-MA  USII     GKASSKs.  207 

have  this  property.  Tl.is  mode  of  o.,ou-tl.  has  a  hr 
;ore  jn.portunt  bearin,  upon  pr..tl.a  .,riJL]^: 
on  ,  .  ,Kst  v.ew,  would  suppose;  since  it  stores  away 
"  cii  the  surface  u  vast  accumulation  of  materials  of 
;;reat  value  „.  unprovino-  the  qualities  of  the  'i  then 

-ned   over,  to  say  nothing  if  the   beau  ^t^^^^^^^^ 
ll.ehu.ds^^^^^^ 

Reel  Canary  Grass  (Fkalaris  anuaUnacea). 
C  mmnon  Keed  (Jrass  {Phragmites  communL). 
^^  ater  .spear  Grass  (  Glyccria  aqunflca ). 
onnnon  Manna  Grass  (  r.7^.,,,v,//,,v,,,^ 
Kice  Grass  {Leersia  orf/wu/e.s) 
Flor.tmg-  Foxtail  (AU^pecurus  gernculatus). 
>>  iJd  Kice  {Zizania  aquatica). 

v.t!!rr-.f ''"''''  ^'''•"'  '""'^^'^  '"  water,  and  are  not  culti- 
-ted  w.th  us  as  agncultural  grasses,  with  the  except  . 

HI.    M.nsH  or  8alt  Grasses,  among  which  we  have 

Nilt  Reed  Grass  {Spartina  pnl>,starbya). 

Hush  .salt  Grass  (^^>,o-//y.«/vy;cm). 

>alt  Marsh  Grass  (Spadina  .stricta). 

Islack  Gi-ass  (Jnncus  fndbosus). 

Beach  (Jrass  [Annnophllu  arundinacea). 

Goose  (.rass  (6^/^ro'A. //«;n-^///^a). 
IV.    FiRLD  or  Pastuhk  (Jrasses.  ~  Umler  this  I.p.,? 
n.ay  be  n.cluded  a  very  large  number  of    p  c      \l   of 
which  have  been  described  above.    Thev  ,^  r^e  s.d 
d.v,ded  aocordmg  to  the  soils  an.l  situations  wl  id.  t  e  ' 
naturally  affect ;  fbr,  though  a  grass  may  so.netn  es  S 


tVi 


*J08 


AWL'AL    \VKi:i»S. 


I 

1 

! 

! 

■i 

!: 

i 

w:^  V 


j.  ( 


lilfi 


fbuiul  or  plari'd  in  a  soil  wliicli  is  not  niitunilly  littod 
si)ecies   will   arrive  at   its   must  purlbct 


lur  it,  vut  nt 


(levciopiuunt  on  a  soil  not  wril  adaptcfl  to  it 
Among-  these  might  he  nientioi 


led.  as  examples, 


'I'iniothy  (Plihmn  jirnfrihsc). 


-Meadow  Foxtail  (.//i 


opwiiriiH  pratoixis). 


Common  Spear  (Jrass  {  Poa  jinttc 


HSIN  , 


Oi 


)rehard  (Jrass  (Ddcfi/Ii.s  ijloincfcfd). 
Perennial  liyo  Grass  {  LoHnih  jwrcinic). 
Italian  Kye  Grass  {Loliniit  ifidlcHiii). 
lledto))  (Ji/rosfi.svnJ(furi.s}, 
Whiteto})  ( A(ii'0'<ti.s.(ilbti). 
Downy  Oat  (rrass  {Avciki  pKhcfivons). 
]Meadow  Soft  Grass  ( llnh-us  luinitns). 
Meadow  PVscue  {Fe.sfnoi  jirdfcn.si.s). 
Field  fJarley  Grass  { Ifitrdeiiiit  pratciise). 
lall  Oat  (irass  [ArrliviKitherHni  (icciKici'inn). 

Tnnothy,  as  has  already  been  seen,  is  the  standard 
field  grass  in  this  group,  and  is  suited  to  all  eiimates  of 
this  eountry  north  of  A'irginia  and  Tennessee,  though  it 
sometimes  suffers  from  drought  in  states  further  north. 
It  is  a  field,  and  not  a  pasture  grass,  as  it  will  not  endure 
very  close  and  fre(pient  cropping.  This  is  seen  in  the 
readiness  with  which  a  Timothy  stubble  parcbes  up, 
unless  there  is  rain  or  cloudy  weather  immediatelv  after 
it  is  cut. 

V.  Annual  Wkeds,  winch,  though  proper  grasses, 
are  often  very  troublesome  in  cultivated  grounds,  either 
on  account  of  their  creeping,  underground  stems,  or 
their  rapid  and  luxuriant  growth.  Thrifty  farming  is  a 
ceaseless  struggle  against  these  pests,  and"  the  former  is 
generally  careful  to  keep  as  clear  as  possible  of  them. 
Among-  these  may  be  named 


OUKKS    MAMJniX(;     (;HASSJ.;.s. 

Clioss  [lifoinus  secnVinus). 

Soft  P,n),no  (Jmss  [liromNs  ,„oUh) 


20  f) 


ShMHler  Foxtail  ^Alu^nrnrns  a^rrsf'l,). 
lUomi  [A'jrosfi.s  s/a/oNi/cra) 
Couch  (!rass(yV///,v/,;;  r.jM'Ns) 

l^>ugl..stHlkedM..a,iuu',P../rm»). 
AmmuhI  Spear  (;,-ass(/V,.o. .,.,,,, 
i'l'U"urU'ire(;ras.s(/%,eoy//^,,,,,,,,^ 

Of    those,   the  la.st   four  are  net    •.lu-.v  -i 

a«  wools  si,u.o  .1,0, .,,,  .„;,„;;:;,;';;,  ;-■-;  ;™ 

f,i<i\ei-\\alks,    and    aAcmiex     tluM-    ....,  i-      . 

"■""bio»,„„.,  a,„i  .lifiic-uit  ,„:.,;,;.::;,   "^^■"'^^''"'«'->- 

^"I.     OllASSES   AllAITUI.     |.„||     Cl  I.TlliP    1,    fi„„,.^.    ,, 

™>"r;:;;:::r;i::t-::;i:;:rf'"-" 

;;'  '-Plen.sh,n.  the  constant  waste  and  eZ>  tio  '^^ 
tli(3  nclier  (|ualities  of  the  soil  in  fl  ''■^' ,"^"""  t)t 
K-rains  and  the  higher  J   '  '      ■  ?.  ^"""•'"^^^'^'^  '"^ 

^>^--i-.i.espedaiii^;;rt:  :..;ujr'''^^^ 

sun.ed  at  a  distance  fVon.  uhe        L     ^  e  it  i    """ 

tl'Ht  tlie  tiu-mer  restores  to  the  so  -dl  n-?"  V'  'T 
takes  fid.n  i>      T,\        .1  "'  '^^  "'"^'''  'i«  'ie 

"tdr:  3"FT■»-- 
tion  for  ud.at   has  been  t.l-l     f  "  ^""^P^'^^'^- 

■■»^.  f ^.  v..;i..t::,:";™  :-^,;'  ™  "'^  «'-'pe  or 

Nature,  loil  .o^,,„,,e„;  p„,„„^^  ,,„^,  _^^.^^^^^^^.^_^        ^^^^ 


i 

fi 


\4 


i„,a. 


210 


ELEMKXTS    OF    TIIK    A  IK. 


hnuiidless  liixnriaii.'.'  df  vc^-ctaMo  j-T<.\vtli.  r.i-lit  and 
air,  licat  and  water,  ari^  the  soinvcs  ol' vitality,  and  they 
l)ocomo  iiicorjHd-atcd,  as  it  were,  or  assumo  a  tan;;il>lo 
form,  in  the  green  masses  produeed  in  the  surtiice  ol'tlie 
eartli;  and  these, in  decaying, eonstantly  increase  tli(>  ler- 
tih'ty  ot  the  soil,  hecanse  thoy  not  only  restore  to  it  the 
inorganic  substances  which  they  took  Ironi  it,  hut  many 
others  which  they  drew  Ironi  the  atmosiihere,  and  em 
bodied  in  their  leaves,  and  stalks,  and  roots. 

The  atmosphere  is  known  to  be  i'ull  of  the  very  ele- 
ments which  it  is  most  desirable  to  secuie  and  turn  to 
our  own  use;  and  there  is  no  way  in  which  the  farmer 
can  avail  himself  of  these  invaluable  aids  so  surely  as 
by  embodying  them  in  the  form  of  green  vegetable 
masses,  and  turning  them  fresh  beneath  the  surface, 
where  they  soon  decay,  and  are  ready  to  nourish  other 
vegetable  bodies,  that  is,  to  produce  crops  which  are  of 
money  value. 

Oreen  nianuiing  has  rarely,  or  never,  failed  of  pro- 
ducing satisfactory  results,  when  it  has  been  economi- 
cally and  judiciously  applied  ;  and  its  value  as  the  true 
mode  of  fertilizing-  the  earth  has  been  sufliciently  proved 
in  practice,  in  cases  where  the  farmer  has  oughed  in 
clover,  buckwdieat,  oats,  &c.  The  result  or  elfect  uf 
green  manuring  is  well  known,  and  the  truth  of  the  sys- 
tem is  sufliciently  shown  in  the  fact  that  it  is  strictly' in 
accordance  with  nature. 

But  our  oi'dinary  modes  hav^e  nsually  been  too  (>x))eii- 
sive,  either  on  account  of  the  cost  of  the  seed  of  the 
clovers  or  other  large  seeds,  or  in  causing-  the  loss  of 
the  crop  for  the  year,  that  is,  in  fallown'ng;  or  in  tiiiling 
to  secure  the  full  benefit  of  the  system,  from  the  use  ol 
too  few  varieties  or  species  of  plants,  and  consequentlv 
having  too  small  a  mass  of  vegetable  matter:  yet,  not- 
withstanding this  failure  to  secure;  the  highest  advan- 


<;in;i;.\    vi.;(ij.;TAHLi.:   massks. 


211 


agoH   of    vvhM-h  the  system  is  s„seo,,tibl,,  the  farmer 
I'H-S  by  nu.ms  oi  turning  in  green  crops,  increased  the 

;;;7'7'^-;''''  'M''  of  the  nu.nld  in  his\soil,  ami  thu^ 
i'tted  .t  u  preduce  a  stronger  stalk  and  n.ore  perieel 
gran,,  and  saved  the  expense  and  labor  of  hanling  the 
header  manures,  his  ^reen  crops  ior  manuring  being 
loady  at  liaiul.  *= 

JJow,  instead  of  relying  upon  clover  or  buckwheat 
na.nly,  winch  has  conunonly  been  the  case,  suppc  e  the 

■td.  ted  t..  Ins  systen.,  and  productive  of  the  best 
>o.suIts,and   take   pmns  to    plant  then,  for  the  exp.vss 

aml'oH  ■  ^7'"  """"'■'"-  ^''''^'"  '^'^^'^^^itl'  '-s  wheat 
s  ubble  he  following.  K.unmer,  o,.  in  the  spring,  to  bo 
uitli  otiior  winter  rioi.s. 

HU  ol(io.t  >v„ul,l  ho  to  p,o,l„c-o  the  largest  pos.iWo 
.".ss.     He  »l,„„ld,  ,l,e,„  .select  the  ..ndlest.fee.lerpW 
ot  e,.  tl„„g.  be,„g  equal,  and  a  large  variety  of  tm 
lhe«e  .ee.I»  „,ay  bo  .elected  by  lumself  on  his  own 
fertn    and  cost  bin,  only  the  troablo  of  gatherini-  slv 
<-."  bity  cents  ,„  a  dollar  for  ten  ponnds  or  e,^2„,,  S 
o  V  an  aere,  win  e  bo  may  Ining  al'ont  lUr  more  "atf  a ! 
to,y  res,,  ts  „,  ,bc  inbni.dy  greatc-  ,„a»s  of  vege  a  le 
"lattei-  wind,  he  can  tbns  prodnce.  ^Hotable 

lins  ,s  an  impo,ta„t  consideration,  not  only  from  the 
fct  that  a  g,e,,t  va,ioty  will  baste,  tbe  fo,™',,  ,tio,   in 
He  «o,l,  and  thus  .nateriaily  elevate  the  tern,,, 
but  because  d,tfe,.ent  va,.ieties  or  species  of  pl.^     t   ."e' 
'nd,!  I     "'""''';■''.   """  ™'«>* 'lifferont' olcmonts, 
ces  that  a  close,  tb.ck  mass  can  be  obtained.     The  best 
results   can  only   be  brought  about   bv  the   vi'or   of 
growth  and  tbe  variety.     The  vigor  of  g,owtl,  dfpendl 


i  ^ 


2Vi 


HIZE    OF    SKKns. 


fm"hup.u  iUr  .•.-c.f  variety,  an.l  , ',.  variety  is  attuine.l 
cheaply  by  plants  ot  small  seeds. 

In  a  poun.J  of  l.urkwl.eat,  for  instan.v.  (JHTe  are  univ 
Hbont   f.ltee,.    thuusan.)    see.js  :    i,.    ,,>,!    eh.ver.  u    little 
over  tvvehu.Mlre.lan.l.ilty  thousand;  iurve  and  oats 
"'^'"^    ';^""^v   tlHM.sand:    while   i,,    n.anv'of  the    l.es,' 

plants  h.r  MKM.urinu,  there  are  ever  a  million  grains  to 
tlie  pound.  " 

111  what   .loes   the   superiority  of  clover  as   a   ..reen 
mHm.nng  plant  eonsistV     Is  it  not  in  th.-  vast  amount 
o    uator  stored  away  n.  its  sueeulent  loaves  and  sten.s 
vh.ch   causes   ,t   to    ,U.,.ay    u-ith    great    rapidity   when' 

l.uned  m  the  so.l,  and  thus  Inn.ish  .  suppiv  or  fertilix- 

n.K  nmtenals  ,n  the  quiekest  , „,?     In  "this  resp., 't 

It  18  no  doul.t  exceedingly  valuable  lor  the  purpose- 
but  .s  ,t  not  possil.lo  to  render  other  plants,  whose 
seeds  are  far  less  expensive,  erp.allv  -..Uerv  and  Inxu- 
mnt,  by  «own)g^  them  thickly  together,  and'  hv  a  iudi- 
C.OUH  selection  of  large  and  leafy  plants  for  p.'otecti.u^ 
the  smaller  ones  by  their  shade? 

If  the  above  suggestions  are  worthy  of  eonsideraticu., 
It  would  .seem  to  follow  that  many  of  tlu-  plants  now 
regarded  as  weeds,  an.l  never  cultivated,  except  in  seme 
cases  for  the  beauty  of  their  flowers,  mav  be  valuable 
to  ,s3w  and  turn  in  as  green  n.anure.  Anv  phmts,  in- 
de(>d,  winch  wdl  grow  with  others,  and  foVn,  a  o,,.at 
mass  of  green  vegetable  growth,  embodving  and'cor- 
porifymg  the  fertilizing  elements  of  the  air,  may  b(« 
made  useful  and  serviceable  to  the  farmer. 

It  is  not  my  purpose,  in  this  connection,  to  develop  a 
complete  .system  of  green  mantiring  by  a  description 
of  al  the  n'  .nts  most  valuable  to  be  used  for  this  ob- 
ject, but  ouv  c  ;-ungcst  that  some  of  the  species  of  the 
grasses  wh:cl.  -v,  Uv,  alludu.l  to  in  the  i.reeedin.- 
pages  may  h-  hu^  ;;-.awt  as  gre^-n  manure  plants   espo 


'•iitlly  t(»  sow  wifli  sonic  of  tl...  I.,..  .  , 

"•'''<•''  ""'V  snv..    to     ,  1         i   ^''■'''''    '•'''''^'^'n>lants, 

•'-kM^wlionnvl.L  ,'"''""'  ^^'   '«'^^-^^'- 

'i"e.fion.  to  H.M  t    t      .      /     "  ^"-^'•••'•""<'"^'""«-  i"  this 

-^■'''.  ■^up;::;;,i;::,;;;-;;:;;;;; 

"KEK.V    MAM  HIN,)    ,„U9HK8, 

One  pnun.l  of  HasHy  Foxtail.  ,;00  ono       . 

"      "  \v,,.„i  IT  •    ,.  ''""."00  seeds. 

_^     ^^    ^^  »<"„i  rr,.ir  („H,sH,     2,()0(),(,oo   " 
c<     ..    ..  I,""*;''  """■  «'"«'^.    -',000,000   .. 

..  J;^''"'"^v.SofUJms«,    1,. 500,000    « 
_^   i  fionnml  Kye  Gmss,    2r)(),()no    " 


"  Chess, 
"  ^lillct  Grass. 
Mi'iii'  Gra.s.s. 
"  Tall  0,it  (iniss. 
"  Tickle  Grass, 


irj(»,(IOO 

1,-'(M),000 

500,000 

•'{•"tO,000 

■*,000.000 


)e 


«.-a»«e»,   as   Kivo,,    i„    cl,an,e     fi  :         V''    7'  "'  "'" 
:"'"i"-l  10,.   „s„  o„  me.l  .0 t'-l';;,""''   '"   "™ 

;-■«;.»"•.  .B   al.-ea,l,.  n„i,„,.,er    Tl        .,    "all'T''  , 

pound  of  e,.c7  "«»;«;  ,-:';,!'■■  "■'"'  ^"™"^-  o- 

"f  course,  he  «trie(K  L        ,      ,  "  """''"-'''  «"""". 

V-.V  H  little  a.:  :;tr';:f'e,''""i'"^^ "  "■'"  "'"■''■- 

from  chart:  l„„  i,      " ,  ffie  'nt  I  '     T"  '"''  ''■•^^^«'" 


H!| 


.  ! 


214 


ox     \'AR10US    SOILS. 


thickly  iind  well  cau  bo  easily  ciilculiitcd,  taking-  the 
I'equisite  (luaiitities  of  each  i<j)eeios,  and  tiio  avcrap' 
number  of  seeds  to  tJie  pound.  The  number  of  diller- 
eut  species  taken,  including  soun;  of  the  larj:?er-leaved 
or  j)i()tectioii  })lants,  should  be  at  least  as  many  as  ten; 
the  more  the  better,  as  they  will  more  surely  furm  a 
close,  thick  mass  of  m'reen  veg-etation. 

Of  the  bettei-  jj,rasses  suited  to  this  top-seed   manure 
culture  on  medium  soils,  nn'ght  be  nu'utioned  the 

Tall  Fescue,  ofitbout    ;)1.'.'),()(10  ,«w(ls  to  the  iiouiid. 

June  Grass,  "  "  ;!,WS,i)()l)  "  "  "       " 

IMeiidow  f'escne.  "  "  120,000  "  "  '•       '• 

Orchard  Grains,  "  •'  (;40,(li)i)  "  "  •'       '. 

Timothy,  "  "  1,100,000  "  "  " 

Quaking  Grass,  "  "  7,000,000  "  "  " 

Bermuda  Grass,  "  "  700,000  "  "  '• 

Striped  Grass,  "  "  (370,000  "  "  "       " 

MukinjL;;  use  of  a  mixture  of  some  or  all  of  the  sj)ecics 
named  above,  togethei'  with  more  or  less  plants  of  a 
larger  and  ranker  growth,  we  might  form  a  heavy  mass 
to  turn  under  and  enrich  ;uid  mellow  the  soil. 

Such  as  would  be  suited  to  a  heavy  clav  soil  mav  b(> 
selected  from  the  above,  bearing  in  mind  that  the 
larger  plants  to  be  sown  with  them  should  iie  such  as 
penetrate  deeply,  and  grow  with  a  rank  and  vigorous 
growth.  In  a  similar  manner  may  be  seleett'd  nu".\tures 
for  light  sands,  by  a  refei'ence  to  grasses  that  idfect 
such  soils,  as  described  in  the  first  chapter. 

To  carry  out  a  com[)lete  system  of  green  mainiring, 
requires  some  little  time  in  securing  the  seeds:  and  this 
the  farmer  umst  attend  to  personally,  if  lie  wishes  to 
have  them  fresh  and  good.  There  is  scarcely  any 
plant  that  grows  along  his  fields,  pastures,  and  roadsides, 
tliat  may  not  be  made  serviceable  as  a  green  manure,  if 
judiciously  managed,  and  sown  and  turned  under  in  the 
proper    season.       The    economy    of    green    inanuring 


STrnV     0  1'     I'l.ANT.S. 


215 


no 


depends  14)011  being  able  to  throw  in  the  vo-etable 
growth  between  the  other  and  vahinble  crops,  witiiotit 
the  h)ss  of  time  or  land.  To  adopt  it,  tiie  liirmer  will 
need  to  observe,  and  bucome  liunihar  with,  to  some  ex- 
tent, tiie  plants  on  his  farm:  and  il'  he  finds,  by  experi- 
ment, tiiat  green  manuring  is  ell'eetive  in  giving  him 
l»etter  crops  at  less  expense,  he  will  need  to  have  a 
seed-bed  for  many  of  the  [slants  he  may  wish  to  use 
in  order  to  be  sure  ol  a  regular  and  constant  supplv' 
of  seed. 

Jt  will  be  easy  to  give  the  system  of  green  manuring 
n  tan-  and  complete  experiment,  by  taking  a  small  piece, 
say  a  .piarter  or  half  an  acre:  an<l  fur  this  purpose  the 
seeds  ot  wdd  plants  of  the  liirm  can  be  procured, -., -own 
and  turned  ni  for  wheat,  rye,  or  oats,  and  tlie^resull" 
noted. 

VII.  Litter  Grasses.  Many  of  th(>  wild  grasses 
grow  with  great  luxu.iance,  and  often  in  places  verv 
eonvenient  to  the  barn  or  the  homestead  :  mid  some  of 
them,  owing  to  their  size  and  abundance  of  leaves  are 
"dnurably  adapted  for  litter,  and  used  as  such  tliev 
greatly  increase  the  maiiur(!-Iieap. 

A  selection  might  be  made  of  grasses  of  this  descrip- 
tion, wdnch  would  produce  as  valuable  a  vield  of  litter 
as  the  straw  of  some  of  eur  grain  crops.'  The  follow- 
nig,  with  many  others,  might  be  suggested: 

Common  Heed  (Jrass  (Phrcuiniiies  ammuuis). 
Lyme  Grass  {El//mit.s  ciiyiHici/.s). 
Canadian  Lyme  Grass  {Efj/mu.s  canadeihsis). 
Slender  ILiiry  Lyme  {Eljimxi^  .sfrintxH). 
Reed  Canary  Grass  {Phalarls  arundinacea). 

All  of  these  grasses  have  been  described  in  chapter 
iirst,  and  their  natural  habitat  given  under  each. 


iiiiii 


af^-r 


21G 


STUDY    OF    I'LAXTS. 


liie    various     a-roiirm    <.•;,-»•.    ..i 

;'j..i*-.ir,n:  at;  , :  ;i;;:';.'t  j^^^  «'-r^^"-  '-'■^' 


C  TI  A  P  T  E  d     V  T  . 


■iHK    COMPARATIVE     XUTKITIVK    VALUK    OF    THE 

';  I!  ASSES. 

Wk  l.ave  seon  that  the  various  species  of  r^rass  differ 
v.-n-   ....enallv  in  nutntivo   value :  that  so'""  ,n^- 
ti.e  M-reatest  ,,uant,ty  of  nutritive  matter  whon  pven 

nj       eflouer,  others  when    the  seed   is   ripe   a^: 
P  n  t   .nature;   that  son.e  yield  a  luxuriant  aftennath 
.  lo  others  can  searcely  be  said  to  produce  any  at  all  ■' 

suited  to  the  o.,az,ng  of  sheep,  while  others  o-row  most 
uxunantly  on  the  low  lands  and  in  the  marshc',  ads 

ta.n  the  nchest  dairies;  and  that  no  soil  is  so    terile^ 
Plam  so  barren,  but  that  a  grass  can  be  found  adajied 

Sou.e  species  indeed,  will  not  endure  a  soil  even 
;;  ;."-'"••"  fert.l.ty,  nor  the  application  of  anv  stin. 
■la  .no.  n^anure,  but  cling-  with  astonishing  te^.acitv 
to  the  dr.ftn.g  sands,  while  others  prefer  tit.  heavie  t' 
clays,  or  revel  m  the  hot  beds  of  anuuonia;  some  are 
.roganous  n.  then-  habits,  requiring  to  be  sown  with 
;>'-.•  spec.es,  and,  if  sown  ah>ne,  will  linger  alono.  till 

cxt,  pate    hem.  usurping  to  themselves  the  entire  soil 
-'•/.e  a.id  disappear.     Nearly  every  species  is  distin: 
gu.shed  for  some  peculiar  quality,  an<l  most  are  deficient 
Hi  some,  comparatively  fbw  combining  all  the  qualities 

(l-'lT) 


21S 


"•»I!TKS     (JKAMIXKL-S     W  O  li  C  i;  M.;  x  s  i  s. 


•'^•■''•■'v.l  Uy  us  in  altenrnte  lid.!  cn.ps.  H,,'  past,„v<  ..r 
l'^'rma.K..it  u^o^yiu^,  t„  .such  an  extent  ..s  tc,  justil'v  a 
^•'•iicral  ccitivation. 

|t   ->  i.niHH-tant,  tl.cM-ofbro,  to  loam  the  c-oniparative 
'"-  ;;'f'v<'    vahn.   of  v.u-h   species    tlnnv^Ut    to    l.e   ,vur,h 

'•-'■t'^^ntm,^:  and  it  is  tl.o  ohjert  ot' this  chapter  to  ,lnun- 
(^oiiie  Jight  upon  this  point. 

This  stu<ly  is  naturally  attended  with  ^Tcat  .liilh-uhies 
it  IS  hut  recently  that  accurate  researches  have  heen 
">a.le  u-,th  a  view  of  arriving  at  such  positive  results  as 
wnuld  l,e  entitled  to  full  coulidenco. 

In   1S24,  a  very  laudahle  attempt  Avas  made,  in  Kup-- 
'=""'•  ''v    the    Duke   of  Bedford,   at   Woburn   Abhey    to 
ascertain  the  comparative  value  of  most  of  (he  a-rasses 
^vhlch  couM   then,   be  obtained  :  and  the  results  of  the 
experiments,  conducted   by  h.s   .anlener,    CJeor^-e   Sin- 
Hair,  were  detaih.d  HI  a  volume  under  the  title  of"  //or- 
|;/.v  (rraMnue>,s  IVnhn rueu.isr    This  work,  which  was  the 
list  treatise  worthy  of  mention  on  this  subject,  became 
tlio  text-book  on  the  grasses,  and  has  been'followe<l  bv 
most  subsequent   writers,  do-,vn    to  the   present  time". 
J^nt  these  experiments  must  be  regarded  as  verv  unsat- 
ishictory,  both  on  account  of  the  imperfection^  of  the 
nn'thods  of  arriving  at  the  results  (though  thev  were 
he  best  then  known,  and  suggested  bv  Sir  llumphrev 
I'Hvy),  an.l   because  each   species  or  varietv  ^/as  culti- 
vated only  to  a  very  limited  extent.     The  produce  per 
acre,  lor  instance,  was  calculated,  in  most  <-ases    frou< 
the  yield  oi   four  square  feet.     Besides  this,  verv  o-reat 
diserepanci.vs  occur  in  the  volume,  which  can  wi'tirdilJi- 
culty  be  accounted  for. 

The  analyses   n-cently  made   bv  Professor  Wav    the 
distuiguished  chemist  of  the  Koyal  Agricultural  S(ic'iety 
are  more  reliable.  i„  my  estimation,  than  anv  which  can' 
1h'  h.und.and  no  treatise  on  the  grasses  wouhl   be  coin- 


KI 


'•'"•"•:N'MS     ('((MI.ocxds. 


,.K..C.  «.i,l,„,,t    ,..i„„.    ,|„.  v„l,„.l,|,,    ,,„„,    ,„  „,,;,,,    ,,„ 
iia>  cii  1 1  \  ('I  I. 

;    uu-t.on  c.    n,tn>g-enons  suhsta.H.s   ,.,„,amell  in   ir. 

Nitl.om.luul.t.thosuo,u-u-|u.-|,  islo„,Hltol,eauin..•^.- 
dK.ntoln.o.tve^etal.les^i.stan..esats,,n,..   ,.n.Hi:;,r 
tlicu-   ^Towth    ,n   so.no   dc-gree   rontnl.utes   to    it  al.o  ■ 
«o  .a,  the  starch  and  other  ingredients  wlnVh  cun.l.ine 
to  pro.uuto  heat  and  respiration:  for  no  .louht  th.-re  is 
H  mut.ml  rehtt.on  existing  between  the  various  elements 
'  '  lood,  son.e  g-ouig  to  sustain  and  nourish  one  part  of 
ti.o  annual  systen,  and  others  fonuing  son.e  other  pa 
-lUHlly  important  to  health  and  existen.-e.      KaH,    n.n' 
perform  ,ts   function,  and  he   not   onlv   in.portant    In 
|.H.ponsale      hut  cheuusts  have  he^n  a^^^^^^ 

ase  the  nutrmve  value  of  articles  of  food  chieHy  upon 
the  uitrou-enous  compounds.  ^  ^ 

The  nitrogencms  constituents  of  any  substance,  as 
.ass  or  hay  tor  nistance,  n.ay  be  detenuined  with  little 
l.fhcu Ity.  and  w.th  great   exactness,  siuce  it  has  been 

ot  i.ea.ly  the  same  coiist.tutu.n.  and  do  not  varv  in  "their 
combmations.     The  determination  of  the  sugar  is  some 
what  more  diih-ult.  ^  ' 

The  constituents  of  plants  may  accordingly  be  divided 
mto   two   classes:   one   class  en.bracing   all    those   sub- 
dances  ot  winch  nitrogen  or  azote  tonus  a  part,  and  the 
other  consistmg  of  non-nitrogenous  bodies.     Oxluten   al 
Himen,  gelatine,  casein,  leguim  a,  m.d  fibrin,  belono-'  to 
the    ormer  class,  being  nitrogenous  v-.bstances:  while 
starch  gum.  sugar,  woody  fibre,  mucilage,  ^c,  are  desti- 
tute of  nitrogen,  or  uon-nitroo-em^us. 

Only  a  small  .pianti'y  of  nitro5,vn'  i<  f;„n,d  in  ve.-e- 
tabie  substances,  and  it  is  derived  h.  part,  at  least,  trom 


m 


filT^'-'-^ 


J  i 


220 


NUTIMTIV,.;     K  J.  KM  K  NTS. 


'7^^nit4o;::u:':!^:;;;:'-^      On  the  other 

"'   ^l'*'  <-^'nstituent.s  of  t  ,       I     ^    ^         "'^"'^  Proportion 
•''  ^''-••-  -lu,Io  svsten!  ^  r 

'^■^    the  wholo   hoi  .     T*'"''  "'  "^^^V' tissues, - 

^n"scIo,-t|,eremuM  '"■"■'''''    '^^'^  ''^^■^''  '»^cl 

*''-nrro,enons^,e;:::;^:;;.  ;;;,;:.;r^^'^'-'^^'''-^^-^ - 

''-'^v  parts  of  l.Lt.r'"'''   ''^^''^  '""-"'-  -'d 

^^"  ^^'«  ->l>poso  one   I<i  d    'f  ,       T  """^'"^''''  ^''•'^™^'"t'^' 
o^'  nitrogen   to  the   nomn]        ?'        '',""^'"'"  ""^^  """^^e 

pound  which  c..ntuins^h;^,;;n!r'  ;'!  '^^  ^'"'"''^''  ^'"^ 
a^^  fiu.  to  nourish  the  uuin^d  "  oth  r  tl  "'"r  ""'''  ^'^^ 
-as  tl,e  two  pounds  whi  ?  "^"^  ^'^'"g'  ^^'''il 

titv  of  nitrogen     "t  tm     T     ""  '"'^'  ^''^^  ^'^^  ^"- 

'"-•'--'■-n^ingivJ         T"'"-.'^ 

to  l.e  overlooked        -^  '  ""  ''*"'  '"^  "^'^^  "^■-"'•se, 

^oy  iH  this  u  n.ere  deduction  of  theorv      T. 

'»^'"t   has   frequently   iu^en   m-u  i^-l   .  ^ ''^  ^'^"Pen- 

-^tablished,  b,,th  h^.cie  cJ  t^^^^^^^  ""'  '•'  ''^  "'^^^^  ^''"y 
^•'•eater  the  proportion  of  it..n  '""r';"^"^'^'  ^'"^^  the 
contains,  if  it  lo  eonnin  T"  "'"^''^ -'^-'^^etaMo 
«"tsin  l.roper  comhfn  r        ,      '"■  ""P"''t^i''t  constitu- 

1  or  liUfogenuus  pnnei- 


i  r  I 


i 


1''AT-1.'UI!.M)N,;     S  T  lis  T  a  N  (■  Ks  .  221 

P'es,  wliil,.   Ikt  is  nm.l..  nn,  t..  a   ,.-,v.f   ..vf  .  ^      <• 


"^'  "oiHiitrog-enous  suhstaiic, 
lor   till 


I")'   til,.    |)ru.liu-ti..n   ,,f   Ihr    .,,,,1    t  ■•  -V  '-'^^Nin 

'-'-"-ti,i .:au,,Hj;,;;  l:;:;;';|;f,,:; "■"' 

>"i«tain   tl,„   „-sf,.,„.     Tlu-v  ■„        I    ,      '■""'''  "'"' 

i:;;::;:;-;;rtr;--'rf- 


of  th 

oi 
DIM 

ih. 

.,'"::;■    .^'f^":  '•:  ^"'^  -'apomticu  ceases,  and  the 

'•mmatu.ns  must  l.e  ol.viuns  n„ 


"liportaiiee  of  l.utli  (letor; 
a  moment's  refloction. 


tuiJcctK.n,^a.e  arran^v.l  m,  tho  following  table: 


'lilB  I 


% 


!       ^ 


i4M 


•>•>.) 


WAV's     IWKSTMJATIOXS. 


TaBLK    n'.-^\All'RAL    (JhassKS.       Xamf      wm    H 

->^\Ali-.    AM)    DaTK    of 
i  Ol.l.Kt  Tl()\. 


*'""iii .Viiiiii'. 

•"^"•^■t.si-i'iit».(l  Vfi-rial.    . 

I'^ill  Out  (fniss, 

l*""ii,v  (lilt  (;nisti, 
tiiiiikiiiK  Grass,  . 
Iprij-'lit  Itriiino,  . 
i^iil't  Hniini.'  (iiiiss, 
Cfi'sli'd  DiiK's-tiiil,  . 


Oivli.ird  (irass,    . 

Oivlianl  (iniss,  ripe,  . 
Ilani  I'VsciK.  Grass, 
■Mi-ailnw  Soft  (;niss, 

Itiirlcy  (;i-ass,   . 


I'<niinial  Uy^  Grass,  . 
Italian  Uje  Grass,  .  . 
Tiiiiotliy,   .... 


Annual  Spear  (irass,  .    .  •  in,,  „„„„,^ 


"'■tunic  .\mimi. 

■An(li(i\aril|iiii,|  i«lnraluiii, 

A|.i|„.ciiMis  prati'iisis. 

'  Arilici,atli,.nini  avcnaivuiii, 
•Vx'Ma  llavi'sfciis 
Trisriiiiii  inilicswiis,  . 
Ilriza  naiiia,     .... 
Ilroiiiiis  crcctiis, 

llr'Hiiis  iiiiillis, 

,  <Vniwiinis  t-ri.status,  .... 

Dai'l.\  lis  L'ldiiR'rata, 

I)iict.\lis  KlniiKrata,    . 

Kcstuca  (luriuscMila, 
lliildis  laiiatiis,  . 

iUia-iliiiin  jiratciisf,    . 

'  l-"liiiiri  iwriMiin', 
l-'iiiniii  Ilaliciiiii,     . 
,  I'lili'iiiii  jiratunsc,    .    . 


Diitc  of 
t'olli'C'tlon. 


Character  c,f  tl„.  ,Soi|. 


'  May  'jr,, 
.Iniii-  1, 


JiiiM'  Grass 

l!"ilL'li-stalkr,l  Mca,l.,»-, 
Irriiratccl  .M,.a,l,„v  (j,,,^^^ 
InMVatoil  .■Mcadinv  Grass.' 
Animal  Hyv  Grass, 


I'liii  liratfiisis, 
I'liH  trivialis,  . 
Kirst  criip,  .  . 
Set'oiKl  onjp,    . 


.Inly  17, 

.      .Illllc  J  I. 

■    .Inly  II, 

•  .lllllc  j!l, 

•  June  2.'1, 

•  ;"ay  8, 

•  .luiiu  21, 

•  i.lune  13, 

•  .Inly  III, 

.  i.luiic  l:i, 

j  ' 

.  I.lniic  2l», 

■  j.lnly  11, 

.lune  S, 
i.luue  13, 
Ijune  13, 

:  ^lay  2S, 
i 

•luuell, 
•Inuf  IH, 
Ai'ril  .iO, 
•Inni'  -Jti, 
.hiiM.  s. 


on 


I'aleareiius  l,,aiii. 

I'iileare„us  l„ani.  ^-rav- 
'■lly  suij.soii. 

I'm-rM  niarhle  loam. 

•■'"lest  uiarlile  loam. 

I>i.\'  calcareous  loam. 

'''crest  niarlilu. 
j  Calcareous  loam. 
Stiir  loam. 
,Caleare(Mis  loam. 
Calcareous    loam 
'     jrravel. 
;f'aleare<ius  loam. 
I  I>i-.\  calcareous  loam. 
Calcare(]us  loam. 
Calcareous     l„aui     on 

Ki'avel. 

Calcareous  rul,l,|yli,aiii. 
,I''i)rest  marhle  loam. 
Fni-est  niarlileloam. 
I^'iini,     with    Kfiivelly 
sniisoil. 

l*i-y  calcareous  loam. 
Calcareous  loam. 
Calcareous  loam. 
CalcareiMis  loam. 
Calcareous  ruljbly  loam. 


...•tj;;^;:- ::-;-;::;:-■■:,;::'''-"'•  e«ii...i.,a 

ra"J.""l  ii,  T«l,|„  \-  *^      "'  ■"'''l.^>=«l,  are  iii- 

„s'!'':;:„;;""'""'^  „v  i.,..„,s.„.  «•„,  „...,,„  „,^„,.,^,, ,,, 
^..m:;;:;l.'::';;::;;: -,::;;;— 

genou.s  prinripK..  tinction,  all  tlie  n.tro- 


CUJ.Li;(  TiuN     ()|."    CLOVKKS 


2l';^ 


4.   The  i)r.,i,.,r(.c.n  ofolenK-i.ts  ol' ivspiiatin,,.  ,.r  lieat- 
p.(..|,u-ino.  pnnr.ples,  iuno.ig  wliid,  aiv  inrlude.l  staivh 
gu.u,   sugar,   pcH-tif   aci.l,  A-c.  :  all   the    nuu-nitrcgenous 
M.l.stauco.s,    lu.loe.J,    except    intty   matters    a,.,!    woody 


fjbi 


I'e. 


•J.  The  proportion  olwondv  fibre. 

(>■  Tile  ainoiinr  of  mineral  matter  or  ash. 


Tahi-k    V.  -. 


AirriFiciAL   (JiiAssRs.      Xamk,   and   Datio 

OF    ("UIJ.KCTIOX. 


Coimiion  Name. 

K.Ml  Cl(),-,r,        .    . 
IVrennial  ('lnver, 
Crirnsdii  Chiver,    . 

Cnw  Uniss,     .    .    ,    . 

ecpH  (Irass.  il  liit,    . 

ll"l>Tr-i.-f,)il,        .    .    . 

\Vliit.'CI,,viT,    .    . 

eimiiiuiri  Vetch,    .    . 


illcitllnir   N'lllMC. 
'I'l'ifiiliiini  pi'iiti'ii«c,   . 
|Ti'ifi)liiini  ]ii'roijiic,    . 
'I'rifiiliiini  iiicariiiitiini. 
'I'l'ifiiliiirii  nioiliiini,    . 
Trif.iliiini  iiii'iliimi,    .    . 
Trifiiliiiiii  |ii-(K;uiiil)eiis, 
Trifiiliuii)  repeiis,       .    . 
Vioiii  siitiva 


,     l)iite.,f 

Cl>ll>'<'li<.M 


.Iiiiii-  7, 
.lunr  4, 
.hiiif  4, 
•Iiiiii'  7, 
.lime  L'l, 
.liuii-  Hi, 


•  hiinictcr  111'  Siiil. 


**"""■"'"' <)„.,l„-vfl,is  sativa. 

Liioern,..,,,.  Alfalfa,       ,    ,     .M,.,lica^'.,  sativa 
lllack.\I,.,|k.k..„.N,„„„,|,,    M,.,|i,.:,.„  |,„,„ , 


'I'l'iiac-lims  jdain. 

(.'aluareuus  luam. 

ealeare(m.s  loam. 

'IVnatiniis  Inain. 

<'alcari'iius  liiam. 

ealcart'iiiis  loam. 
>'uiii'  IS,    I  Foivst  loam. 
June  l;j,    j  Fdivst  loam. 
June  8,       Dry  loam. 
Jllilf  10,    I 
•liiiii'  (i,     I  fajoarooiis  loam. 


The  specimens  were  pieked  out.  plant  by  plant  each 
specunen  by  ,t.elf;  from  fields  in  which  tlunM  ere  grow 
-g  na  urally,  or  m^ 
tion  and  were  not  raised  expressly  for  analysis. 

Md.s  o    profound   Mivestigation.  aufl  forming,  as  they 

'     ';  <;    ^'"^  -.^t   i.nportant  eontril.„tions%ecentlV 

ad      o  the  science  of  agriculture,  are  worthy  of  care- 

V  du       "      ;     T'"   '""    '""""'   '''   ''^'  '""   "^'  tl'o   most 
valuable  practical  suggestions 

TiK.   results   of  the  analysis   of   the   natural  grasses 


!   hi 


iiii: 


Jlil 


A\AI,VSKS     OF     TIM    K 


<i  I;  A  ss  i;. 


Tablk  VI. -- Avalvsis   ,„..    Svrnru.   (!.assks 
/"'/•/■v  U.S  kihra  >J,-vvn /,■„,„  HnjM,l. ) 


»N'Bni(Mi((ini«<. 


(100 


h'-A 


Ik 


\\\  I  ii 


Swppt-.sconfcil  roi'iiiil, 
Mf.idow  Foxt.iil, 
'I'lill  Oat  (Jmss,    .... 
Vellow  Out  (ini.xs,  . 
l>own_v  Oat  (iiiiss,  . 
yuakiiijr  Grass,   .... 
I'pfi^^ht  nroiiH"  Grass,    . 
^«i\  HroiiK.  (iniss,  . 
Oestcd  l>(ij;"s.tail,  . 
Oix'li.-inl  ffrass, 
OivlianKiiaKSSTOl.s  ri,„.. 
Hard  Fcsciip  (ira.ss, 
■Mi-addw  Soft  Grass,    . 

Uailcy  Gi-ass, 

IVieniiial  %e  Grass,  .   . 
Italian  Rye  Grass,  .    .    .    . 

Tiiiuithy  Grass, 

■Amiiial  .Spear  Grass,  . 
.Iiiiif  (irass, 

'{"iiiih-stalked  Meadow, 
Irrigated  Meadow  Grass, 
IiTifrated  Meadow,  2d  crop. 
Annual  |{ye  Cirass, 


A  -|„„,v  at  tlio  first  cnhnni,  of'TMl,!,.  ri       -ii    . 
^^trikin-  (liffenM.cv  in  tl.o  .  .  "  ''''''  '''°'^^  '» 

as  l.i..-h  ■.  .^n  pt'nT,itM,uv  of  wafor,  it  l-oin... 

as  111,1. h  as  80  m  some  instances,  while  it  f.lls    .  •  i 

ing-.-  or  tlie  irrio,,tef]  -inis.ses. 


>^TI!IKIN,;     (0.\TI;.\S  IS. 


(100 


l.ou 

I   2.01 

4.17 

I  2.11 

i.ao 
2.a8 

1.5'J 
2.(11 
l.GG 
1.113 

2.54 

2.15 

2.21 

2.20 

l.'.i.-. 
2.20 
1.2H 
2.24 

l.'.i'.i 


OHrl.ost    into  (|„u,.,.  „,.   „,,n..,-..llv  f  '■"""" 

^'"•".'.  tins .  n.t  uni,;;....^;  ;,;;:'• .:  *""^^  ^•"■••■"'■"<' 

p<"  of  tl..  ,,„...tity  or  lK.v  u  ^iv,,n    .,,,,.,1..,:.         I, 

i   :'  ::,^;;';s-:;;-;™;;:;i-: 

out   Jie  cliic'l   iiitorost   of  tli,.   (J, I,,  if,.      ,         i  • 

;"'"""-"-•■'■-• .iv...  Ti:  ,,     :::;;l;;' 

'"'  ■;"■"" ".'  ""'"I  'I'^'t  iiios,.  ,iin.,,., ,  ,|,.,„.,„| .    ' 


^pecmiciis. 

A  Klauc.  at  TaI,lo  VIJ.  wilUlunv  tlua  the  pereont.eo 
water  ni  the  artificial  i.-ras.o«  =..  f..i.-...  r....i  \\    "!'\^.*' 


same  eirc.nnstanees.      The   nerp,.nf..  r     . 

nr  Hnolw        •  .  peicenta^^c    ol    a  lMinuijuii>; 

:oat';iT,;;;:;;^,'rr£,  ':„frT"''- ',""-"  "•^-  ■'- 

(^>innaro   re.l   ,.|nv       /  ""^    ^"''   '"-^-"^^  «''^^«e«- 


ivin,i>-  1)11 1   lli  per 


per  cent,  of  s,,h'.! 


U 


per 


""itter,  from 


2li(j 


KX.VAI  I.NATlo.N    »»r    (  I,  o  V  i;  |;  s . 


h 


1       i^ 


ulii.!i  thr  llcsli-Coriiiiiiu' ;iii,|  ,,ili..r  *mitrili\M  >iilist(iii('<>s 
iim>t  he  iliiiwii;  wliilc  in  Tinidiliy  ihc  nmikt  iiiiioiinrs 
tu  niilv  H  liitlu  over  .")7  |.cc  cH-iii..  Iciiviiii:'  4;5  j)or  cnit.  ,,C 

•""•'l'  '"'•'^f ■*  •■(.iitiiiiiiiin  nutritive  prinriplew. 

This  is  iin  iiii|i(irtant  (liU'crfurc,  to   hc-in  with.     The 
|"'iv(.nt;i-c  nf  llr>ii-r,,rniiii;4-  |ii-iiM'ipl.'s  (,|  the  t\V(.  |, hints 
(loi's  not.  at  liist  siulit,  a|.|M-iir  to  dillbr  vciv  matciiilK  . 
the  clover  containin;;'  l.iiT,  the  Tiiaothv  4.S(; :   hut  a  ht- 
tlo    considiMatiun   of  tlic  exceiMhii-  vahic  oC  this  c.n- 
Htit.KMit    will    sin.w    that    tho    latt<-r    has    an    iin|M.rt;,nl 
iKJvanta-v  in  tiiis  respect  over  the   cl,<ver.      In  liit-tmni- 
liij-'  jMiiiciph's   the  Timothy  is  more  than   twice  as  ri,h 
MS  clover:  while;  in  lit'at-pioducin-' principles  — als„  ver\- 
valuable  — Timothy  tiir  surpasses   clovi-r,  the   one    pro- 
diicinn-  22.85  per  cent.,  and  the  other  only  8.4.")  per  cent, 
or  waste  and  us.dess  matter  in  the  shape"  ..f  w,M.dv  lihre 
'I'imothy  contains  the  hirnest  per  cent.,  while  tlie"lar-'er 
<piantity  ol'inineral  matter  shows  it  also  to  be  a  greu'ter 
exhanstcr  ol   tlu;  soil.     The  most  valuable  practical  do- 

Taiu.i.:  Vir._  Analysis  ok  Aktifk  iai.  (Ikassios. 
(  HH)  j>ii)/.s,  lis  tdhri,  J'i;nii  Ihv  jidd., 


N'uriic  or  Plant, 


=  1  i 

3  '^  U  J 


Rod  ("jovor, !   81.01 

Pcronnial  ('lover,     .... 

Crim-dii  ('invcr 

<'()\v  (Jriiss,       

<'ii\v  fii'jiss,  2(1  specimen,    . 

II<i|>  Tfofliil,      

White  Cli.ver 

<'<llllllll)M   W'tcli,   ..... 

Sairifiiin, 

('ticeriie,  or  Altlilfii,    .    .    . 
Black  .Medick,  or  Xonsuch, 


Hl.O.j 
82.14 
74.10 

77.57 
83.48 
7!t.71 
82.!i0 
70.04 

Gy.iin 


4.-J7  .(!'.)  s.4o  ;i.7r,  i.sj 

•"•'■'•  .78  ^     8.01  .1  '.II  1..-S 

^••"i  .07  1     0.70  5.7S  1.7.-, 

'i-'^'>  .H2  I     9.42  0.2.-;  :{()| 

-*•-'-'  1.07  ;  11.14  4.2)!  1.77 

«•"'•'  .77  ^     7.2:-)  ;!.74  ^y- 

3.80  .8!)  i     8.14  ;..:!8  2.08 

't.04  .52  0.7-)  4.f;8  1.11 


4., 32        .70 
3.83        .82 


70.8U   1   .''x70        .94 


10.73      r,.77       ]>4 

13.02  ,   8.74       3.04 

7.73      0.32       2..'')1 


I'.XAMI.VATIOX    Ml'    (;|{A8SK.s.  221 

'''^•"■'--  VIII       Analysis  op  X,TrnAL  Giussks.     ( loo 
jnuifi  uf  the  ,j,.a.s.s  ilr!r,l  ,,f  i>loo  //„/^^.^ 

NnmnnfOniH..  :     j|-|  |         [   H^  i  ^  =^' 

M".-i.,u  i.„u,,i,  .  .  ;.;.!;;    ;;•,".    ••■••■'^   'i'LH.!    ti.:i2 

TalK.Mt  (irn.s.,      .    .    .  ,.7,';:         .T,'"        '•"-       ■'■'•^■'         7.K| 

v-iio,v  Oat  (im.ss,  .      ■  ■  !  :",^    ■;  ;    ■"''•"''   ■'^•--*    n-v.* 

l'"".^v.»,itGras.s,     .  ■         -',1        r'''       ''•"■^      ='•"••'•'•''        '■'•»8 

<^"^.ki.i^(in.ss,      .        ■    ■    ■    ■    (     ;•':        :"■'      ■♦"■""      •"•"^        ^.:i2 

••r.-i«i.,u..omcti..ass,: : :  ■    :;Z  ::■!   '"•"'  =''-"  «-"*^ 
^'"^^^-eon.. :  ',;-^i  ;:7i'  „«,;'••':.,  ■  --» 

"-•■"•Vs,.u..,i,.as«,.   .'.    .  ;.?^  '       -J  ,   ;''f      ^-«2;     5.01 

AK-mlowSo,r.;..uHH;  "        n"-!!        t  ^ '•'*'      '^'^^    '     ^"^^ 

Mc.a,iuwi5;ui..v,im.«/ !  [ '    ,;':   i:;;;;  ;■;■-'  ■■■'^^  ^-^^ 
;■•■;: ^",....... ...:  ;;;^-  ;^    :;•-  ^i..;:  mh 

ItMliai.  l!yo  Grass,     ..  ,,,  in   '     q.-       .'  "-"         '-* 

'''i.notl,v,    ....      ;•  !      l-;l     "•■'-     '''•-'•■       '.'.or, 

•^"-"^poar  Grass,     !    !    "    "  's^     ^'^l       -;'f       "'■"'        '•-' 

.'U.K.  Grass,     .  '         "         "         ]f_         ^'-^       -.1.70       ;!0..J.,         ,..88 

>ni..t,.,IMoa,l.,wGras,.  .V'l         ^''^       '^'J         '''"'        '- 

'  ■         y  1 1.   ti.e  se.Mls  w.ro  ripo.KMl,  and  they  sl.onM 
'^  therefore,  be  compared  with  other  grasses  taken    n 

t    i,  too.    hat  the  specimens  analysed  were  in  the  drv 
.^tate,  nn.eh  dner  than  they  could  be  made  by  the  o  d 
>-y  p.ocess  of  hay-n.nkin,  :  n.r.  howe v.-r  perfi^'^  ^ 
'-y -"red,,  win  st.ll  ....tain  a  very  eons, eb^^ 


',w 


i 


III 


22S 


THE    ri.ovKus     A.VA  I.V/KI). 


centago  of  war.T.   and.  if  artilieially   drie.l,  as    in    the 
trials  g-ivoii  alx.vc.  and    tluMi  exposed  to  t!ie  air.  it  will 
alisorl)  from   10  to  i:.  per  cent,  of  water,  sliowin--  thai 
no  hay  is  al.solutely  dry  liy  any  ordinary  proeessi^s.     hi 
Kn-laiid,  the  perceiitag'e  oi'  water  in   well-made   liav  is 
alM.ut    ](!,   and    hay   artilieially  dried    will    ahsorli    that 
Hinonnt.  if  exposed  again  to  the  air.     J  <lo  not  think  the 
l)ereeiitage  here  would  ho  so  largo,  for  ol.vions  reasons. 
Ill    the   analysis   of  the   hay  of  the   reed   eanarv   urass. 
made  by  Professor  Ilorsford,  and  given  on  a  proc'ediim' 
page,  tho  percentage  was  but  10.24.     ^J'hat  was  a  wel'h 
cured  specimen,  taken  after  it  had  passed  the  period  of 
blossoming,  and  the  amount  of  water  is,  perhaps,  slightlv 
below  the  average. 

Jt  will  bo  seen  that  a  great  diiforence  exists  in  the 
valuable  constituents  of  the  iirasses. 


liinvcst. 

Flesli-forming  principles O.om 

Fat-pnuliioing  principles,  .    .    .    .    l'.II 
Heat-giving  principles, JiS.O;] 


IlifjlK-St. 

17.2!» 

3. 07 

^7.82 


Avcrajtu. 
ll.OS 

2.81) 
47.'.I2 


Table  IX.  — Analysis    oi.'   Artificial    Grasses. 
lOOy/r/y/.v  o/'  thv  (jra.ss  drivthd  212°  Faliy.) 


il' 


n 


Name  of  Phint. 


Red  Clover, 

Perennial  Clover,  .    .    . 
Crimson  Clover,     .    .    . 

Cow  firass 

Cow  Cirass,  2d  specimen , 

Hop  Trefoil, 

White  Clover 

Coiumon  Vetch,     .    .    . 

Sainfoin, 

Lucerne,  or  Alfiilfiu  ,    . 
Black  Modick,    .... 


Ill 


'iil 

£c& 

<: 

22 

")") 

lit 

18 

IC.fiO 

24.;i;j 

18.77 
20.48 
18.76 
23.01 
18.tr) 
12.70 
24.00 


4.0'.> 

3.73 

3.57 

4.77 

4.67 

4.38 

3.00 

3.01 

2.70 

t.or, 


'■■  I  fe 


44.47 
42.42 

37.50 
30.36 
40.65 
43.80 
40.04 
3'.t.45 
45  ',10 
40.  ir, 


l'.1.75 

25.  (to 

32.39 

24.14 

18.84 

22.00 

20.53 

27.38 

24.71 

34.21 

27.10 


0.50 
8.35 
0.78 

ll.OO 
7.07 
8.33 

10.20 
0.50 
7.87 

10.11 

10.84 


[In 


IMJ.UTK   AL     VALUK    OF     A    GRASS.  •Jli!) 

A  Mlau'H.  at  tl.is   table  will  show  that  tlu>  (jillbrent 

I'nncpl.s    „,    the    artiliciul    grasses    vary,  to  a    great 

'■\to!it,  as  follows  :  ^ 


I- lesh-luiiiiinj,^  principle?,  .    ,    .    .  li'.TG 
F;vt-pr(iiluciii;r  |„.jm,|p]pj^^  _    _    ^jfj 

ll(Mt-;,nviiiii;  pi'liii-iplos, o;;  ;j] 


Hij-'in'st. 

lit.DO 

4.77 

4'.i.65 


AviTilgf. 

18.08 

••5.76 

41.48 


1  lie  (hirereuce  in  coiupositi.)!)  exhibited  in  the  natural 
JiTasses  ..f  Table   VIII.  ,s   very  marked,  and  of  course 
the  value  ot  the  grasses  as  compared  with  each   other 
must  vary  greatly.      Still,  the  practical  value  of  a  grass 
•Impends  somewhat  upon  circumstances   which   cannot 
be  analyzed,  such  as  the  period  at  which  it  arrives  at 
ii'aturity,  and   the    particular  soil   and    location  of  th.^ 
^"'••".■r.     It  might   happen   that  a  grass,  not  in  itself  <o 
n.'h  HI  nutritive  (pialiries  as  another,  would  be  prefbrre.I 
">'  a.-count  of  its  coun-ng  to  maturity  just  at  the  time' 
when  the  farmer  most  needed  it.     JJut  this  table  shows 
the  .M.mparativ,.  n.itritive  .p.alities  of  the  grasses   sim-o 
all  the  specnncms  were  collects  and  investigated'in  the 
same  manner,  ut  the  same   period  of  growth,  -  or  as 
nearly  as  possible,  -  when  in  the  flower,  so  that    what- 
ever souives  o\  ermr  nnght  exist  to  moditV  the  results 
they  would  naturally  applv  to  al!  alike         ' 

The  grasses  from  the-  irrigated  meadow  consisted 
I  —  l-lly  of  June,  or  Kentucky  blue  grass,  rough- 
>talked  meadow  grass,  perennial  rye  grass,  meadow  s^lf 
^.ass,  barley  grass,  meadow  oat  grass,  and  a  fbw  other 
species;  and  ,t  will  be  noticed  that  in  cm.bination  thcv 

;>-lnHlesh  and  fat  forming  principles  to  a. reat... 
••^f^'"t    than    w^e    should   be    led   to    suppose    from    the 

' M'os.fon  of  any  one  of  them  alone 

Our  cultivated  Timothy  compares  verv  favorablv  with 
the  other  grasses,  ..ontaining  a  less  percentage  of  use- 
less  matter,  as  woody  fibre,  than  any  other,  except  Ital- 


^!f  I 


230 


COMPOSITION     OF    TIMOTIIV. 


i  :  :<       :f 


II  i 


lan  ryo  g,..>.  .,..1  crested  do^-s-taiK  a  ^mss  not  co.n- 
rnon  ;v,th   us,  and   the   in.i.ate<l   .rass^s?    Inp.un 
-u    e     lu.at-,H.o,|.u-,n^    pHne.-les,    su^a.    gluu.    and 
^t.uc.,  ,t  IS  surpassed   l.y  the  Italian  rve  gra's   l.u   l,v 
-oters.     l.,ean.dysesordns,^^^^^^^^ 

^I^^  ^tat.snMahles  \  I.and  VIII.  inllyjustifV  the  nreli.r- 
cu^ewichwe  have  ,on,  shown  ior  the  use  o/^^^^^ 
ih^  .fo,,  as  taken  ironi  the  liehl  at  the  tnue  <,l'Mu«on.- 
H'M',  .r  Will  be  found  to  contaui  less  water  a  ..,.,.  ', 
pereentu,e  oniesh  and  iat  ionnn,,  jHineiplj;,:;^  t^ 
11  eless  „.atter  n.  the  shape  of  woodv  (ihr  -,  t  an  no. 
of  the  other  gTHsses.     The  deduetions  ol   s.-ienee     er 

Vlt  a  JIY'"V'['''^'''•''"^  '''''•    -^''Tables 
yiJ.  and  L\    will  show  the  eo,nparativ<.  advanta-M.  of 

the  use  ol  the  artiiieial  j^rasses,  in  poh.t  of  allnnnnnu^ 
o.  tieshdornnno-  prn.e.ples,  and  fatty  matters.     Th.  r.y 
boiiaeeous  or  heat-produein^  principles  ren.ain   neaHv 
the   same   throno.|,„f.  ,,,„•,,    ^,,^,   percenta^v  of  wa<te 

;-dter  or  wo..dy  filu-e  is  less  than  in  the  natural  .rass.1: 

n.^  .s  an  nnportant  tact,  wc.rthy  of  the  earelul  eonsid^ 
oration  of  the  fiiriner. 

Fn  the  sixth   rniu.nn  of  Table  VIII.  will  be  foun.I  the 
poreentage   of  ash    of  each    of  the    <;,,,sses    analv.ed. 
I  Hide  X.  contains  a  still   further  analysis   of  thi<"  ■i.}, 
Aviii.'h    u,ves  all  tho   inoro-anie   constitiienls   which   the' 
plant  <ler.ves  from  the  soil   a.,d   the   manures   furnished 
tn  it.      It  IS  important  and   sim^cstive   to   one  wh,.  will 
eNainine  .t  carefully,  as  indicating-  the  kind   cd'  manure 
^vh.H,  n.  many  cases  it  may  be  desirable  to  applv,  while 
-f^v■ll  throw  still   further  hVdit  upon  the  practical  .nd 
'■""'Parative   values   of  each  species  which   the   farmer 
proposes  to   cultivate,  by  shown,.,  the  extent  to  which 
It  will  be  likely  to  exhaust  the  soil. 


^I'HSTAXCKS     TAKKX 


"CM     THK    SOJL. 


'.:'>] 


T.MiLK    X._ 

Xa 


('nniiiiori  N'liri 


A.NA/.vsis    OF   Tin.:    Asfi    of  sum 
n:it.u.  AM)  Artiffcal  (Jiiassks. 


!•;     OF    TIIF 


I 


Moiiilmv  Fiixtiiil,  . 

S'lvuet-scuritfil  \cnial 
Dniviiy  Oat  (frass, 
l'|iiii;lit  ItnjiiiM  (irass, 
Soft  Jli-oiiic  (Jrass, 
Crest,.,!  I).ifr's-tail,    .    . 
Or,'liar,l  (jrass,  .... 
Orcl,a,-,|  (ii-ass,  with  sun 

rip,/, 

JIard  Fescii,.  (irass, 
M,a,l,nv  S,)ft  (Jrass,  . 
yii-mUnv  ItarU'y  (Jrass. 
I'eiviinial  llyo  (irass,  . 
Annual  .Spear  <}ra.«s, 

.'iiiii!  r.ras.s, 

ItiMiith-stalked    .Meadow 
(Jrass,  ,    .    •  .    . 

Tiinmliy, 

Vniiiial  Hyo  (ira.ss,  . 
Vcllmv  Oat  Ora.ss,     , 

Hi'd  Clover, 

U  Into  Clover,    ..... 
Suinfoni  in  (hnver,     .    . 
y^iinfoin  in  !<eeil,    .... 
Italian  ]{.\\.  Grass  in  flower. 
Italian  liy,.  (irass  in  s,'(',l 


|7.81;J8.75    0  25 

2.16 

li  ■'U  2S.:i(i  10.()!» 

■■i.M 

•■>.J2.'ilj..'s  10. SJ 

.i.;!7 

■l-^l  :i,s.4s    T..-.:; 

5.4U 

5-S'.';W,:U   !».(!.' 

4.!)] 

li  .-IS  40  11     7.2i 

■'J.  20 

■J  ii]  2U.tJ5    >  tiO 

•i.J2 

•J.il^i-'.IS    0.41 

a.!!!) 

•«5    y.OOl  2S  .47il7(Ki' 
1.20    'J.212.5;i]  Isyo.OU 

-  4.72;i.l7  .72M1.21 
.ijd  iu.:w  4.i)ii  .21;  20.;j;i 

0117    (i  (14  2,(i0  .2S  :;o.oi,( 

-  10  1(12.4;!  is  24.09 
•i.o2     2.00    &.S2  2.22  .60  20  62 


0(i     2.8S    S.]4y.47 

^'.42  2S.&3]2D7  r!.45  l.^iMO  :il  2.h:i 
"•■i7  2,s:!l  8.02  4.41  1.S2  S.;il  :i.4l 
•").(i7  o(J.2:i  '1  04  4  20 
'■'■'■i-^7.Vi  S7.-i  6-20 
2.!-3Iil.():!  !).]!  ,„  IS 
J04.i2.0-1  i().02    4.2() 


.40 


!<  1 1-1  2  42 
0.U4  2..S,^ 


•2.J  .■',;!  0(1 

.7s;i]..s4 
;il  a4.s;! 
•'ili  20.21)  a 
••-']  24  (17 


a.2!in.(,!)2  44]  57  41.80 


.40 


8,: 


.30    9.1a    4.47 


:>  (i.l  L 

■s.soa.; 


5.20.!  I  0,1  ]]  2'.) 

(1.45  41  70  10.07 

5.2s  a5  20   0..!1 

050      .5:1    0.71 

-      a.(i,S115:j 

6.a7    .!.22    0.:!5 

)'8.50    3.40    7.07 

6.97  50.18    0;J4 

().40  (10  02    0  :i2 


4.80     4.(!2I4  O4  5.ao 
3.45        -      0  82  2.69; 


4  00 

1.S5 


T.OS  .■!.U7 


2s:ii.i7 
.20  20.40 

■27  24  25 

.2s  ■2S  00 
40  .10,00 


^■!.47  22.02  4  0S  .20  .'lo  45 
T.-'l  IS. oa  20.41  K. 15  1  00  14:;:; 
■•■28  1.V20  24.;i0  6.0a     01;;i,,o 

-.aa  I7.ao2oo7  4.5o 

2.82      .         0.05  2.2a 
l.:il      _       12  20  2  04 


.6S  20,(11  1.25 
T^  12.45  a.98 
-0  10.77    .13 


'        J"  ^ 

-  0  50        - 

-  7.0:1  4.00 

-  4  05  5  00 
-10o:i  i.;,s 
■'  -  .ail 
-non  _ 
-17. so  ;;.ua 

-  4.s:  4.70 

-  8  17      1,2 

-  a. 01  0  00 

.401       -     1(10 

-  ia.80  7.25 

-  .47  3.:i5 

-  11  25  1  31 

-  0.00 

-  -70  :!.24 

-  5.11 

-  1.25 
2..10  1.53 

-  4  05 
0  24    .78 

-  3.12 

-  2.27 

-  6.5.S 


.S7 


A  caivful  exuniinafiou  oi' the   analv,.e.<  „f  the   -..l,   ov 


m^- 


'I  ^^m 


II 

a  ^  ilk  ^ii 

■!lil 


■i  1: 


2;52 


J:-\'mai-sti()n    ok   Tin.;  soil. 


In-    magnesia  or  iron.     Tlu-  an.ount  of  potash  is  .Iso 
-•>)arge,aml.ti«loun.I    in   cunLination   with  sili'ie 

Tako  tho  niost  careful  analyses  of  the  grasses  as  the 

-of  ealcuhtt,on,  and  it  wiil  appear  that  tlu.  weight  ,,f 

:^^^:;-,'T''''tr"'    '*^^-'''— V.I    ,ro.:    th. 

,"''^^"^^^^    ''^>'-'-^'-   than  one  InuHlre.i 

'1   '">    P^^"!"'^-     ^^npposin,.,  then,  that  the  crop  of 

-,. n.^.stno  tons  ,o  the  acre, -and  it  will  rLlv 
^'.   -  Mns  on  ,oo,I  soils  and   nnder  fair  cultivation, 

le  e.  I        ,_„,,,,,,.,  ,,^^^^^^^^.^^^^^^^^J^ 

eouM  ,  ■  "^  "■'l''''^'^'-'-^  ^'"-^  course  of  culture 
could  not  luno.  ,,.nl,nuo  without  the  return  of  these 
cons  ,  ..en  s  to  the  soil.  And  hence  the  n.anure  n!: 
n  cdh.rtese  l-ds  a.-e  sueh  as  contain  these  suh- 
w^Mlicato,  phosphates,  and  potash. 

J^m.e  ,s  lound  in  n.uch  less  quantities  than  potash  in 

'to     the  ,...asses,  Int  the  ndative  pn.portions  dilh-r 

!"'"i->cntspe,.n.s.      In  orchard  o,,,,.,  f„    i,..f,,„,.   ^j,. 

lime  amounts  to  onlv  f)  S'^  ,„.,•  ,.,M,f     , -i  -i    1 

of  not'isl,   ;.  .)<»  -.,    "...  '  "^•'  ^''"'c  the  amount 

to  nca,l^    15  pe,-  cent.,  and  the  potash  to  over  24.    Sod. 

No  one  of^  the   u,,tsses  appears  to  he  hetter  adapr.d 

■^"-'■'t  <•'  P'-sphates  IS  larger  than  that  of  anv'other 
1  lie  amount  (d    water   in   H.,>    .f         •  "    omti. 

the  leaf  sr,  fl,...     i  ^  ^'"'"  '"  ^■'■^''^^^'''  f'^n  in 

tie    cat,  ^,  tha     the  pe.ventap.  of  nutnn.eut  is  ^..-eater 

'^  "'^":'^''7^^'''''*'•''''''''■'^^'- 
n      rs,  that  ,rass  loses  n.o.v  than  half  of  its  weight  of 
^vater.neu,-,n.:anditnever   hecomessodrv.In^   .   V 


'•••Ml'OSITM.x     OK     ski,,;k.s 

—  .>.} 

" '"'■;:''™'i^- '" ■■•'"-■ic.'.i  fi.»t  .1,0  ,„•,.,■ ..,„",'• 

"«- ot  «,o,- i;„„„i  i„  „,,„.,,„, ,,;,,,::,.;''•: 

:;x;,'i;;;,:"'"- "''  ~™""  -"'  -'-'^^  "^ '—  - 1: 

■it).68(j  pec  ,.(.„t.  of  wiiter  • 
08.4M     "      <.      .  .Iry  .natter  ; 


0.',»7?^ 


a^sli 


'••"^•'l     "      "      "  ash  calculated  drv  ; 

■■^uLii,  \\(i8  \  ei'v  siDiill. 

\Vat(M',  ;18.241. 

i>yy  matter,  fIl.T.V.i. 

■n.o   ..,,1,    c.„lculafo,l    ,l,.y   „-,;r"li„„„,    ,„    ,„   _,,^,.,         . 

;:';:,V""'    "-    »'■« ■    '-»•"■   ™i-ula,e.l    ,l,,-,„',e 

:'.).()>*^<S  per  coiit.  "^ 

Ac„m|„„-i,„„„ni„.  a.,„Kvo»  „r  the  „sl,  of  ,1...  „.„ 


C'PfS; 


/      ¥' 


•  :,PW 


ill 


ii 


li  I 


f:        Ih 


.':u 


I.l  M  !•:     IM.  \  NTS. 


'•"•'■'■  '•'"itaiii  M  v..ry  iiincli  lai-vr  anion. .(  cf  lime  aii<l 
I'ntasI,  than  tiu'  Iniincr,  and  lor  tins  reason  tlicv  liavu 
v.Mv  propcily  l-ccn  (Irnominafr.l  linic-plants.  'it  will 
I'f  seon  also,  IVoni  their  conii.ositi.m.  that  phospluii „• 
aci.l  forms  an  important  in.uiv.li.mt  in  th.^i,  while  the 
silira  IS  wry  small,  cmpara-ively.  The  removal  of  a 
Hover  .^rop.  therel.nv.  withont  applvin^  .nital.le  mu- 
inires,  ^v,||e^hanst  thesoil,|nileas   mneh  as  a  erop  of 

the  enltivate.)  .rasses.  th.M.^h  nf  .hllerent  eonstitneuts. 
A  soil.  1,.  hear  .i^-on-l  elover  eroos.  rcM,nires  a  considera- 
I'li'  inure.he.nt  oflime,  potash,  and  i^hosphafs.  an.hvith- 
"lit  the  apphcation  of  these  mannres  in  some  form  or 
other  ihry  will  inevitaMy  rnn  ,.nt.  Plaster  .  i'  I'aris 
luuL'.and  ashes  h.aelied  and  nnleaehed.  aj.plied  to  clover 
s(nls.  are  always  1o||o\v(m1  with  -ood  elleets.  • 

'I-\i>LK    XI.  — Analysis    ok    Spkcimkxs    ok    Wkkua,  as 

TAKKX    KliO.M    Till.;    KIKLI.,    A.M.    WIIKN    DiUED. 


Name  of  I'lanl. 


:?    I       £ 


I      c 


OxH.yc    Daisy   H-ri/.tiiiil/iiiiiiim   Inu-im- 

fhimum) J iim.  •_>;!,   Tl.sr,     -j.jo      ,|y,|  ]o,i4  jy  ^j     j  g^, 

V.ll.nvButUTcur  (««»-„„■„/„.„,.,■,.,;,     .»„„.  13,:' 88.15     1.18     ..^07     0.i(i     500       -u 
'•'>ry>\  (Kiimi.r  iirrinx,,) .Iiilv  A      '-■-,•1-      1  f.n       ' 

IMilKn    M'KCIMKXS   111-   TilK    SAMK.  i 

i'lS.i-yc  Diiisy ! 

iiiitti  rcii|i, 

S"i-n-l,      


7.0."?    :i.4!i  iboi  :!7.;!;>    (i.e.;! 
o.its    4.'.>s  ;yxm  25.;!4    7.71 

T-71     -J  111  4(1  s-2  ;i-  Iti     (i.l2 


If  now  we  cast  o„r  eye  at  the  analvses  of  s.uno  of 
our  con.mon  weeds,  we  shall  see  how  fi.r  superior  the 
cultivated  iiiasses  are  in  nitrot^'enons  or  nutritive  i.rin- 
ciples. 

The  .diniminous  principles  are  very  much  less  than 
in  either  tne  natural  or  the  artificial  grasses. 


XUTIMTIVK     KCH'I  VALKNTS. 


235 


ti.iii; 
7.71 


A  liiie()t'  iiivt'sti;;titi()ii.  hoth  scioiitilic  and  i.ractical, 
<'<iuall_v  iiitriv.tiii-i'  and  valiial.li'  with  tlit"  luir-oiii-' 
Would  Irad  into  the  coinparativ.'  nutritive  iMjnivalcn'ts 
(d'  liay  and  other  feeding'  snli>laiic.'s.  'I'liis  is  not  tiiu 
place  to  (h'scnss  that  suhjcct  in  lull,  the  hue  cdonr  pre^- 
I'lit  nuiuiry  emhraeing  only  the  I'oniparative  nutritive 
vahu's  of  the  ^'rasses  themselves.  For  eonveniem-e  of 
nd'erenee.  however,  Isulijoiu  tlie  toHowing  TahK;  (XII. ), 
einliraeino'  the  results  of  the  proloundest  researches  of 
many  distin^-uished  chemists  and  practical  men,  hoth  in 
the  laboratory  and  the  barn.  Boussin-ault  and  others,  in 
France,  and  Fresenins,  Timer,  and  othei's.  in  (Jermany, 
have  devoted  to  these  and  sinn'lar  investigations  the 
best  part  of  their  lives. 

it  is  neces.siry  to  remark  that  tables  of  nutritive 
e(piivalents  are  liable  to  imperfections,  on  acci)unt  of 
sourt'cs  of  error  which  must  exist  in  the  nature  of 
thni-s,  as  diiference  of  soil,  climate,  season,  imperfec- 
tion of  methods  of  analyses,  A-c. :  but.  makin- all  allow- 
unce  for  these,  and  admittino-  that  the  table  cannot  be 
absolutely  and  literally  eorrect  oi-  p.M'fect,  it  possesses 
great  practical  value  and  interest,  as  -iving  ;i  „,,„(!  .-en- 
craL.dea  of  the  relative  value  for  feeding  purposes  of 
variou.s  agricultund  products. 

In   reganl   to   the    nutritive  value,  as   based   on   the 
amount  of  nitrogen  or  nitrogenous  compounds,  it  mav 
l>e  remarked   that  the    latest   an.l    most   careful   experi- 
ments, conducted  by  most  experienced  and  competent 
experimenters,  ten.l   to   show  that  this  basis  is  corre.-t 
so  tar  as  it  can    be   applied  to  substances  so  analoo-^ns 
in  composition  that  they  can  be  included  in  one  group  • 
as,  for  example,  the  different  root  crops  possess  a  nutri- 
tive  value  iu  proportion  to  the  amount  of  nitroo-en  thev 
contatn,    but  the  'nit-itive  value   of  a  root  ought  not 
to    be    compared   with    a   succulent    plant.  Iik<'  Clover 


236 


TAHLi.;    OF    KQrriVAM.;\TS. 


■1 

» 1 

■^^r  ' 

^^^^^^H 

^^B  i 

^^^^^^B  r 

HB  ki 

h.: 

Ill 


J>z)!,>iii|r)g 


^  '  '  'f.f,  '  <%  <  =  B  1^^  •  r:iiz»p.'o 


I      I  «  M  «  ^T 


S     11 


2  -  -  u  -r  ^  '  r- ;;  I  =  =  I '-  -  I  1 .-  -r  .t  3  , 


''■■'i'M  \=  r.f. 


^^         CO         ^(!^         — ^  -^  ^ . 

=  =   I  c  =   I  .~  §   ■  ,?  r?  -J  rt  —  ~  ■;  ^• ' 

'  ■    ~l  CC   T  MM  ■--'.    —    -   1-  1  .    1- 


■in.ii 


M  M 


:*>  M 


=       I-       M  -^  S       A.  •=       ^  ^       ;?       x>  I.  -rj 

S  •ii.i,iiii:iV(|iH      I  i       ='=  I; ^~o ii.— --,'-,-..  ~, -, — • 

Ii.iZMi.^lu.ijiii      I  .~       "t  '1  ~;        X  =       3^  ~  .-:'  i  r'l  =  ^T  ^ 


^  ^  -ii"iiM|p..ziii.;,i         I     I   -    I  M^'    I     I  '-    ,  '-  ~-    ,  ^' ^'  -■  -■ -r' -r' -r' m' 

^'  iU  -"■n.m    .1"     1101)                  z        z    -             - ^   ,                                  ' 

__,  1^  __    -.I'llllMcl     n.V])H'|3yj               ■"         -''"  —         ^  ^         -^^SSSSSS 

r-  <  -iMuiii,!  .(.uii.iin  V  i  £  '-^ ' — '"-  '^-  « '"  I  i'  -/■  —  y  M  '-.";  r  ■;  '.a  =  ^  o  c<i 


t—i  a  •            ■.i.iiinisiiiw       -  .-  _.                                                                      ~ • 

.,  ^  H  p.uipmijnsui'.i    ]-i^:~':i-?,B:2'Z  I  2SH  =  --;?-*  =-M~^o 

r  X  '■  mi    111    luriuiiv   —  — -; ■■.■.■■.—  '^.  -~  >--=:::>  z-i 

■-  -  -■                                                 ■  •*                                                                                                          ■  ■     r-   —   M   —   _   ~i   M  ,„ 


).)iii;isc|iK _  __ 


:3 


Ed 


r  i      IWLIp    J"    SWlKl  r^    3  1-      I    S  H  ■2'  g     I    ^2  =    9    V     =    =    =    =    M   M  ,-  ~« 

H         a  001  IN  u.i.iiunv  -;-<■-;       •    ■  ~;  _;     _•.;'■  ~  '.•■■'-•  "^  -  ";  ~!  ^  • 

>-)  -__!' •■—MM  r<  M  M  S^  t 


Sl.llKl 


^-  "•  '^  ^  '~  ^  ■:  ^       —  *  *  '-c  c^  :^  o  '-  M  -*  ,*  in  -M 


o   ■ 


8 


o 


tr 


~        o 


>—  o 

^  n  w  •     •  o 

■'"as  _  •"    •■ 

c  s  s  g  vr.S^  ^ 


^ 

^  5 

T 

^ 

~ 

/^ 

^ 

X'   -^ 

■3 

CJ     ' 

:j 

c 

■— 

* 

L> 

■- 

— 

■J:  Cocj-s-s-^;^ 


f.T   instance,    by  the    pn.pn.lion    u|    nitn,.,.,,    i,,   euch 
-.vh,  w.th.ur   takin,  .nt,.   ....ns.,K.,.atio:otl.e,-  ^ 
e.te.      inotia.,.  uonls,.ou,s   n.ay  be  co.npa.v.l  ui  I, 

"'   "  '•'■^"'"""•"s   plants  with  each  ..ther,  but  n.,t 

"'^'■'•"l-   a.Hl    ...a.s..s.       Thislart    is   alhuhnl   to  as  a 

I-ssH.le  sonn-e  of  ,.,,.,,•  in  snnu.  or  the  eaWier  rescwrhes 
<•«  J>..ns.sn,o.ault,an,|  not  as  inate.ially  afl'ectinu'  the  pnu. 
tieiil  vahie  of  the  tabh-.  ' 

The  n.ocleofusin^  Table  XII.  i.  very  sin.pK..     fJoo.l 
upian.l  ineadow  hay  -  or  what  w,>ul,l   be  eallo.l  in  New 
Knolan.l   ^ood  Eng^lish  Imy  -  is  taken  as  a  sta.alanl  oC 
'•"'"I'Hnson.     x\ow,  if  we  wished   to  ja-oduee   the  sanu- 
H'su  ts  with    carn.ts   as   with    one    hun.hxMl  pounds   of 
M;n..d,  average  English  hay,  we  nuist   us.,  aeeordin-  to 
l-nss,ngault's  colun.n  of  equivalents,  SH2  pounds  of 
<-arrots,  or  tor  eaeh  pound  of  hay  3.81'  pounds  of  car- 
rots:  and  aee<.rding  to  the  practical  experitnents  n.en- 
tioned,  oG6  pounds,  -lO  pounds,  -.>.^  pounds,  300  pounds 
and  so  on,  to  each  100  pounds  of  hay  ' 

According  to  the  theoreti<.al  values  of  Boussingault, 
100  pounds  o  hay  arc  equal  in  Ice.ling  qualities  to  (J5 
Poi.nds  of  barley,  GO  pounds  of  oats,  58  pounds  of  rve 
or  .>^)  ])ouuds  of  wheat.  While,  acconliug  to  the  exper- 
iments of  Thaer,  100  pounds  of  hay  produced  the  same 
effect  as  7fi  pounds  of  barley,  SO  pounds  of  oats  71 
pounds  o(  ry(..  (if  pounds  of  wheat. 

With  regard  to  the  analyses  of  Tables  A^.,  VII.,  VIH 
and  IX..  some  slight  allowance  should  perhaps  be  made 
tor  d.ilereuce  of  clin.ate,  since   it   is  well  kuc.wn  that 
p-asses,  as  Avell  as  other  plants,  grown  rapidlv  in  a  hot 
sun.  winch  we  usually  have  in  the  months  of  Mav.  June 
vind  July,  contain  a  much  larger  amount  of  nutritive  and 
saccharine  matt.T  than  those  grown  slower,  and  in  •, 
greater  amount  of  available  moisture  both  in  the  atnios- 


L';}8 


i;iK!:(  T    ()|.-    (MM  A  IK. 


r>l't>re  an,!   Hk-  soil,  which   is  onlinarilv  prosc-ut  ,n  the 

-  .nstanp,  n.al..  h.ss  nnlk,  an.l   less  ih.h  and   .;      ( 

^^^  than  the  san.o  spends  .n.w^^ 
'■'••l>n>       11,0   sanu,  .hiron-nr.   un^M   .xist,  t.,  Von,  • 

c^xtcM.t,  hotweoM  ,Hn.  ^ntsses  and  ,h.  ,.ass.s  ^nnvnt 
'Y'^>"'l"u-at.v..|y   nu.ist   dimato,    uh,Mv    (hey   have     I  o 

-Ivantago  of  n.oro  iK-MUcM.t  nn-ns,  vUnch  p  sh    L^^^^^^^ 
"M  nance    .nereas.ng-,  of  ..onrs.,  the  .p.antity  d'  their 


%■  ll! 


w  ^ 

I 


on  A  i>ti.:r  vrr. 

nil.:    .MMATi.;    am,    sk.vsmns.    ax„    ,,,,;.„     isvlv- 

I:N<K     ox     Till,;     (.i-AssKs. 

,J^'"  .""^^'  """"■   '"  '-'-^i'l-i-  lUr  inllmM.r..  of  HinK.t.. 

upon  tlip.|iiai,t,tyi.i„l  iMilriliv,.  ,,ualitv  ..ftli,.  ..i;,..,.. 

.\()  -Tn,,  ,s  Minn'.|,.priH|,.,if  .,),  f Ih' "seas. „H  H.ai,  lUr 
g-niss,.s.  Kvvrv  li.nnoi-  knows  timt  a  n,..i<t  suviw  „-it|, 
rnnu.vvvuW  .lisiril.utr.l  (m-r  the  months  ol  April  Mav 
"•"'•'"•"•-/vill  insur.  him  tl.o  most  h.xu.ianr  rr,'.,;.  •,' 
^'•='-  .-inM  hay:  au.l  h,.  knows,  also,  that  u  .Irv,  rohl 
''";"'7  '"^  ';'f'^'   '"  ^''<''"'-  '"P'M  and   h.aithv  dc.v<.h;pmrnt 

'voly  small   n-op.     Th...   an,l    n.any   sinnlar  iacts   aro 
laMMliar  to  cvcrv  one 

't  I'^'s  also  iuHMi  lonn.l  I»y  observation  that  the  PTasses 
will  v,,.vtat.  wlum  the  tomp.ratnro  of  the  air  is  al.ovo 
t.olree..ng.poM,tot    water  (3-  Faluvnhoit).   provich.! 
the   ten.poraturo   ol   the   soil    ran^-es   tron>   ;;r,°   to    40° 
w lule  a  lowcM-  temperature  cheeks  their  ^;rowth       Vc-.,/ 

■|-n; 'yemperatures  higher  than  these,  depends  nnu.h 
n  t  Inount  of  nu„sture  and  heat,  both  of  the  soil  an<l 
me  <iimospnere. 

Grass   will    not  veo^etate   when    the  temperature  of 

he  an    s  Ingher  than  G(J°,  unless  the  soil  is  very  moist 

hen  the  vapor  c^  the  air  is  at  its  maxin.m,  or"  hen 

HI  "        "''"^"'^  '"'^''  "^^"■^^"'•^'  vegetation  advanees 
v.th  the   greatest   rapidity  :   and    this   most  fre.n,  m k 

M.V,,  and  June.      B„t   -hen  the  moisture  in  the  atmos- 


ttmos- 

(239) 


E-ar- 


7^ 


hlh 


240 


<'<>Mtl'||,,.\S       OK       ,;|, 


(IW  Til, 


I''"'!''     is       Slio.],,,     ;|,„|     ,|„,     ^,,j|        , 


■^<lll  I- 


l""'""'^-  <'"■  tnrr..r,.iirii,,|,|..  ;„„| 


"■''"•'"•s   'liv,  and   tlic  sul) 


'■""I  ill'ill.^llt.  ;i||(| 


I'iistiiivs  siilliTs 


tl 


sciirccl\- 


•IH    (Iocs    iK.f    lli||.|i(.||. 

^\'iit<'i'  in   rl,,.  .; 


vciir  I'.issrs  iivcr  us  u| 


luu 


'^"••"•<.v.  alh.f  lUMi.y  raivlnl    „1 
''"""•'"■■^i"ii,  First,  'I'll 


"•"'■""'   "'■  "'•'    l{-'v;,l   .V-iir„lt,n,,| 


<>''S('i'\;iti(iii>.  ('(11 


nc>    t( 


.   ' '   •''"'    "'"    ,U'n>\\ili    ,,f  u-rass   is  ;ilua\s 

::';'';""'r ^""  ""■ ' t.r,i...i,,,:,,n,wv-r 

pfnreho  present  in  ,1...  atnn.splu.n..  S,....,n,|,  That. 
'•'  J'-'^nntte  ..(  Kn<,land  tluMnnisnir.  ,,vs..nt  is  n^ 
-.llH-UMitto  ali<,u-tl.o  ton.p...a.nn.  „.  I.av..  full  .'nbl^ 
^vlH.ntmtU.n.,M.raturcoxce.Mls  ;..;o:  i,  ,Hl.a,.  ir.nuistn.v 
''^'  "'•f^'^'''^l'y  ^nppl,..,].  as  l-im,atinn,tu..at..|Mvat..|- 
'''-'•I<'^vs,  tl,a.  ti,n,  vc.^x.tati^^^^ 

porn. .to  tin., ...a,.     Tl.in,,  T,.,  .,,.,.  J,.  „„..„.,  J,! 
-f   tloa.ns    iM.twoen    ;!(i°  an.l   41°.  the  o.,ass  will   .,,,1,. 

Vo^^n.t.'wnhafilthpa.tortiuMon.tI^titu-i;;\         . 
;;/;""I--^-    -.•''-     Thus   the  lan.l  that  wm  l..,. 

c.    sla>epp.nuMe.  in  th,.  latter  ease,  will,, nlvk.,..p  tun 
M.    he  tonne.       TLat  than  4,Mo  I,,  its  .n.wth  il  t 
fifth..,  or  .luuMe  that  of  Its   Kn-wth  when   the-   t,.,npera- 
^7   'r   ';,';•'-•   '':>  -"'   '^  -in   then    l<eep  lour         " 
m«tc.t,l  ot  two.     Again.  IVom  4.i°  to  50o,  itl  ^,,,vth  w i  I 

.sotu.evn,4..nths,oritwillk,.,,,.,,,L.;,,,,    ™ 

n.uufivetos.venslK.ep:anW<ro.n.OM.oGo,ir^^^^^^ 

-b -unless  assisted  1,.  an  artifinal  addition  ;,f,Lt. 
uc-arnves  at   ,ts    niaxhnu.u :    hut  if  the  month  of 

:'"""   l'^' ^•v-.^- i"'>'-^t, 't   will  continue   to  grow  with  an 
increase  of  force  uj)  to  (;0°. 

Our  climate  is  very  diilerent  fr,>n.  that  of  England 
ilio  evaporation  from  the  soil  is  ordinarily  vervnuieh' 
more  rapid,  and  the  actual  amount  <.f  moisture'  in  the 
an-,s  greater,  since  it  is  well  estahlishod  that  the  eva,.- 
oration  is  ,,,  proportion  to  the  height  of  the  temperu- 
ture  and  the  extent  of  Avater  or  land  sm-fh-e-  tP  t  in 


-MOISTUUK    AND     DRYNKSH. 


tllO    U 


'i"[)omto   zones  it 


lllclU'S     il 


3wir,   nliilo   in    tlio   tro 


imonnts  to  about  tliirt 


;;r,':i;"r,' ;'-.i  i-:.-,  ..,„;  ti;„t  ,i 


pK's    It  rises   to   I 


U41 


y-sovon 


rom 


rci'zniL 


^vllen  at   tlio  i 
■'•.''''*'»  I"i't  of  its  wc-io'lit  of 


10  atint 


tfiins  a  liuiidrodtl 


«;  iHHiit  contains  about  a  two-l 
'   '^^'J'for,  while  at  52°  it 


'••^Jtliero 


Min- 


tiuth 

fif'tli 

ratio 


'  I'i'it,  or  twi 


t'on- 


I)art, 
part,  (,r  oiglit  time 


'"•  ''"III-  tiiuea  as  nuiclh  and 


'•«  ".^  niueli :  at  74^,  a  fif. 


«  Hs  much,  and 


't  !^«°,  n  twenty. 


so  on  in  tlmt 


Now,  altlioufrh  tl 


two  countries  is  about  tl 


^'  mean  annual  temperature  of  th 


ibout  48 
tnre  of  tl 


'^'«Hme,- it  being- near  Loud 


e 


)e 


'■iiid  at  Boston  48°  9'  


on 


•sents  a  Juarked   dif} 
every  one  bei 


grown)g  months  of  tl 


,  —  yet   the  teniftera- 


10  two  count 


lies  pre- 


^;^''-onco,  the   mean  temperature  of 


"g  with  us  mt.ch  higher.    IJut  tl 


tl 


i  Knglaud  is  pi-overbiall;^' 


'0  climate 


lo  mean  annual  fall  (.f 
over  twenty.fiv,^   iueh 


moist,  notwithstanding  that 
i«  only  little 


nun  near  London 


iit  Boston 


IS 


'    '  "''""'^.  tJio  quantity  which  i 


C 


o 


over  forty.two  inches;  at  Charl 


ver  forty-five   inches;    at   S 


over  fifty-three   incl 


»vannah. 


rills 
oston,  S. 


!'es,  and  at  Mobile,  Alabt 


in   (', 


(orgia, 
«ixty  inches. 

The  amount  of  sensible  moisture  of  the  .tmo-r. 
'«   greater  in   England  than   here,  though,   tlu        l""^ 

Our  soil  Ljn^ll^lC-^e::^^^^^^^^^^ 
^•;equent  rains  vegetation  suffers  con  r  a  The  !.•  If 
<'^  prass  is  liable  to  be  checked  for  tl  ^  .        ''*^/"^^^'tH 

-,  ana  ,„.  .,„,„,  happen^ir ',:;rr4r;- 

moi,,M„.e  and  do-ness.*  Mo   ;„e  :,f™::- r%' '"''^" 


'■ 

■ 


242 


INFLUENCK    OP     RAINS, 


\i  \ 


uriant  growth  of  grass  depends  not  so  much  upon  the 
aggregiito  anrmal  quantity  of  rain  that   I'alls  as  upon  its 
distribution    over  the    year,  and   especially    over   the 
growing  months.     A  frequent  rain  in  spring,  though  it 
may  come  in  small  quantities,  causes  a  rapid  and   suc- 
culent growth ;  l)ut  it  may  be  laid  down  as  a  well-fixed 
I)rincip]e,    that    tlie    grass    crop   is    better   from    large 
(juantities  of  rain   falling  at  once  and  at  longer  inter- 
vals, —  provided  it  does  not  come  in  torrents  to  pros- 
trate ;   e  crop,  and  that  the  intervals  are  not  so  long  as 
to   produce  droughts,  which  are  always  attended  with 
deleterious  effects,  —  than   from  smaller  quantities  fall- 
ing with  greater  frequen(;y.     The  quantity  in  the  latter 
case   will  not  ordinarily  be  so  great  as  in  the  former, 
but  it  is  more  than  compensated,  it  is  thought,  by  the 
increased  value.     The  fact  that  grasses  grown  in  a  dry 
season  possess  greater  nutritive  and  iiittening  qualities 
is  well  known  to  every  practical  farmer. 

So  great  is  the  dependence  of  the  grasses  upon  heat 
and  moisture  combined,  that,  knowing  the  results  of 
observations  of  the  thermometer  and  the  rain-gauge  in 
any  section,  during  the  three  growing  months  of  April, 
May,  and  June,  one  might  predict  with  great  certainty 
the  results  of  the  harvest  in  that  section  ;  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  the  yield  of  grass  and  hay,  as  stated  by 
practical  i'armers  in  different  sections  of  the  country, 
would  indicate  so  clearly  and  uniformly  the  excess 
above  the  average,  or  the  partial  failure  of  the  crop, 
that  a  meteorological  map  of  that  section  might  be  con- 
structed from  their  statements. 

Before  proceeding  further  in  this  investigation,  it  is 
proper  to  remark  that,  in  order  to  bring  together  the 
practical  wisdom  and  judgment  of  some  of  the  best 
farmers  in  the  country,  as  well  as  to  be  able  to  present 
some  statistical  information  in  regard  to  the  product  of 


QUESTIONS     ON    THK    GUASSES. 


243 


graPR  and  liay  for  that  season,  T  directed  the  following 
circular  to  one  or  more  farmers  in  every  town  in  Mus- 
t^achusetts,  and  to  many  individuals  in  other  states, 
asking  for  replies  from  each : 


Aqeicultuual  Dkpartment,  State  Uovse, 
Boston,  Srpl.  1,  ISuG. 


Dear  Sir  :  Will  you  have  the  goodness  to  reply  to 
the  following  inquiries  in  reference  to  the  grass  and 
hay  crop  of  your  town,  according  to  the  best  of  your 
judgment  and  experience?  If  circumstances  prevent 
your  giving  it  personal  attention,  will  you  be  kind 
enough  to  put  it  into  the  hands  of  some  one  interested 
in  the  subject  in  your  neighborhood  who  will  do  me 
the  favor  to  answer  it? 

1.  What  was  the  estimated  yield  of  grass  and  hay  in 
your  town  this  season,  as  compared  with  others?  If 
above  or  below  the  average,  how  much? 

2.  What,  in  your  opinion,  is  the  effect  of  a  wet  or  a 
dry  season  on  the  quality  of  grass  and  hay?  Is  grass 
grown  in  the  shade  as  good  as  that  grown  in  the  sun, 
and  what  is  the  difference?  [This  question  embraces 
the  intrinsic  value  of  hay  this  season  as  compared  with 
the  crops  of  1854  and  1855,  both  comparatively  dry 
seasons,  while  this  has  been  unusually  wet  in  most 
parts  of  the  country.] 

3.  In  what  month  do  you  prefer  to  seed  down  land 
designed  for  mowing,  and  what  is  the  reason  of  your 
preference  ? 

4.  What  varrcties  of  grass-seed  do  you  usually  sow 
for  mowing,  and  what  for  permanent  pasturage,  and  in 
what  quantities  and  proportions  per  acre  ? 

5.  Do  you  -  -efer  to  sow  grass-seed  alone  in  either 
case,  or  with  Bome  variety  of  grain  ?  If  tlie  latter,  why, 
and  with  what  gr-  "  i  ? 


!  ^ 


244 


PliACTICAL    QUESTIONS, 


-•      t'l 


6  Have  you  cultivated  or  raised  orchard,  fowl 
meadow,  or  blue  joint  grasses,  and  witli  what  result 
us  compared  with  the  yield  and  value  of  other  grasses  v 

/.  At  what  stage  of  growth  do  you  prefer  to  cut 
grass  to  make  into  English  and  into  swale  hay,  and 
What  IS  the  reason  for  your  preference  ? 

8  What  is  the  best  mode  of  making  hay  from  Timo- 
thy, troni  redtop,  and  from  wet  meadow  grass,  and  at 
what  state  of  dryness  do  you  consider  it  made,  or  tit  to 
get  mto  the  barn?  [This  question  embraces,  to  some 
extent,  the  time  taken  to  make  it  under  ordinarv  cir- 
cumstances of  good  weather,  &o.  This,  of  course 
vanes  greatly,  but  some  farmers  would  dry  grass  cut 
in  the  blossom  tuo  good  hay-days,  while  others  would 
prefer  to  cure  it  Jess,  and  get  it  in  on  the  day  it  was 
cut.]  -^ 

9.  Will  you  state  in  detail  how  you  make  or  cure 
clover,-  and  how,  when  so  cured,  it  compares  in  value 
with  other  kinds  of  hay  to  feed  out  to  farm  stock? 

10    Have  you  uspd   hay  caps  ;   and   if  so,  with  what 
result,  in   point  of  economy?     How  were  they  made 
and  at  what  cost?  ' 

11.  Have  you  used  a  mowing  machine:  and  if  so 
what  patent,  with  what  power,  and  with  what  advan- 
tage  ? 

12.  At  what  height  from  the  ground  do  you  prefer  to 
have  your  grass  cut,  and  why  ? 

13.  Have  you  used  a  horse-rake;  and  if  so,  what 
patent,  and  with  w!;at  advantage  ? 

14.  Do  you  feed  c  ff  the  after  growth  of  your  mowing 
lands  in  the  fall  ?  Bo  you  think  it  an  injury  or  a  benefit 
to  the  field  to  feed  it  off? 

15.  Do  you  top-dress  your  mowing  or  pasture  lands  ; 
and  if  so,  what  manure  do  you  prefer  to  use,  at  what 
time,  and  in  what  quantities  do  you  apply  it  ? 


CIRCULAR    ON    THE    GRA8SKS. 


245 


16.  What  is  the  best  mode  of  renovating  old  worn- 
out  pasture  lands?  ^ 

17.  If  you  have  -any  experience  in  ditching  and  dniin- 
.ng  wet^  meadow,  or  ditciiing  o.-  diking  salt  marsh,  will 
.>ou  state  the  result,  and  the  comparative  value  of  the 
grass  before  and  after  the  operation  ? 

18.  What  are  the  most  valuable  varieties  of  salt- 
marsh  grasses  and  how  ,loes  the  hay  made  from  them 
compare  m  value  with  good  English  hay? 

11).  Have  you  any  experience  in  irrigating  mowing 
oi  pasture  lands;  and  if  so,  what  is  the  result? 

-0  Do  you  prefer  to  salt  your  hay  when  putting 
mt^the  barn;  and  if  so,  what  duantity  do  you  L  pe^ 

21.  What  do  you  consider  the  best  mode  of  destroy- 
ing couch  or  twitch  grass  ? 

22  What  is  the  best  modo  of  destroving  the  whit.- 
weed  or  ox-eye  daisy  ? 

23.  Will  you  give  any  other  details  not  suggested  bv 
the  above,  which,  in  your  opinion,  may  be  considered 
important,  ,n   regard   to  this  crop  ;  and  particularlv,  if 
>  ou  have  experimented  with  any  varieties  of  grass  not  in 
general  cultivation,  such  as  lucerne  or  alfalfa,  rye  grass 
Tome   grass,  Kentucky  blue  grass,  &c.,  will  y'ou  state' 
the  results  as  fully  as  possible  ?     If  you  have  any  varie- 
ties of  grass  found  to  be  valuable,  but  not   in  general 
cu    ivation,  the  names  of  which  are  not  known  to  you 
will  you  send  them  to  this  office,  where  the  names'will 
be  given  ? 

Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Charlks  L.  Flint, 
Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Agriculture. 

I  was  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  many  enterprising 
and   intelhgent  fiirmers  for  full  and  valuable  answers 
21* 


\  f 


246 


RANGE    OF    CLIiMATE. 


from  r  ore  than  two  hundred  towns  in  Massachusetts, 
and  fr.  ni  several  different  states,  and  these  alone  would 
make  a  valuable  volume  of  themselves.  I  can  ol' 
course,  <lo  no  more  than  extract  from  them  as  freel'v  as 
space  wdl  permit,  which  I  shall  do  ut  greater  length  in 
subsequent  chapters. 

The  range  of  climate  of  the  United  States  is  so  exten- 
sive, embracing,  we  may  almost  say,  the  tropical  heats 
on  the  one  luuuL  and  the  short  sununors  and  severe 
wmters  of  the  Canadas  on  the  other,  that  the  grasses 
iidapted  to  one  region  would  not  even  succeed  in 
iiiiother.  Some  grasses  which  are  eminently  adapted  to 
sandy  soils  of  a  moist  climate  will  not  grow  on  similar 
iirid  soils  in  a  drier  climate  and  under  a  hotter  sun. 

Blodget,  in  a  valuable  article  on  the  climatology  of 
this  country,  makes  the  following  judiciou.  remarks, 
which  i  have  somewhat  condensed,  on  account  of  their 
length: 

As  now  cultivated  (says  he),  or  as  relied  upon  in  their 
natural  growths,  there  are  two  well-marked  divisions  <,i' 
American  and  naturalized  grasses  belonging  to  the  dry 
and  humid  climates,  respectively,  of  the  whole  United 
Mates  1  here  IS  another  distinction  in  the  tempera- 
ture ot  moist  climates,  as  the  cultivated  grasses  do  not 
go  into  he  Avarmer  portions  of  the  countrv,  however 
humid.  Ihe  English  grasses  are  the  principal  ones 
em bmcng  the  genent  Poa,  Phkuun,  Fc.tura,%-osils', 
■<uu\Dad{,lis;  and  their  most  striking  peculiarity  is  the' 
-n.form  tur    they  form  in  growth.     Most  of  these  aiv 

Fair  q/f ''*''  /"  t/»o  cliimtte  of  the  Northern  and 
astern  h tates,  and  of  the  North  Pacific  coast ;  and 
l.ey  here  form  the  great  reliance  of  cultivators.  But 
they  also  approach  their  climatic  limit  here  very  nearlv 
"\'''^^"  temperature  and  humiditv,  and  prove  ?er 
native  position  to  l)e  in  a  more  equable  clhnate  The 
and  ;''  ';n^,."f;P^.^  parts  of  the  New  England  "states 
and  Ox  New  xork  is  sometimes  destructive  from  low 


m  <» 


HKJil     Ax\D    LOW    TEMPERATURES, 


247 


temperature  alone,  and  the  dry  extremes  are  very 
nijuriou.s  and  sometimes  absoluteiv  destructive  Whit 
precise  n.easu.vs  of  Jow  ten.perature  destroy  ti.ese 
Jias.es,  ,t  isd.fhculttosay,-  but  every  alternate  year 
allords  some  locality  ni  which  the  cold  is  so  o^eat  as  to 
destroy  the  ^  m.othy  and  orchard  grasses.  ^V  cirl^nu! 
•lice  of  cold  for  some  days  helow  zero  of  Fahrenheit, 
mid  with  a  minimum  of  1^0°  hdow  zero,  is  undonhtedly 
certain  to  be  fatal,  ,f  the  surliice  is  exj.osed  to  the  air 
and  IS  without  protection  by  snow  or  otherwise. 

.here    is  apparently  little  difference  in   the  hardiness 
ot  the  principal  cultivated  grasses  in  resisting  the  tem- 
perauire     extremes.       Low    temperature    alone     may 
destroy  them  in  all  the  elevated   p,.rtions  of  the   New 
Kngland  Mates  an.l  New  York,  and  in  Wisconsin  and 
some   parts  of   Ilhnois.     In  most  cases  the  destruction 
ot  the  three  i.rincipal  grasses  occurs  at   the  same  time 
and  no  singling  out  of  particular  species  is  remarked.    ' 
In  the  direction  of  high  temperaturc.s  there  appears 
no   aefin.te  limit  of  this  sort,  or  none  dependil.g   on 
single   extremes;  but  all  these    grasses   fhil   when  the 
niean  temperature  of  the  summer  months  attains  to  80° 
1  liey  Jiave  but  a  variable  and  uncertaui  success  in  Vir- 
gwiiia  and  n,  all  the  states  south  and  westward  they  are 
still   less   reliable,   or  fUil  altogether.     As   they  ar>  all 
perennial  in   the   highest  sense,  the  whole  yeaV  and  all 
Its   extremes  must  be  taken   into  the  account.     They 
cannot,  as  in  the  cereals,  choose  a  portion  of  the  year 
only  and  adapt  their  requirement  of  time  to  the  'tem- 
perature.    In  this  respect  they  diifer  most  widely  from 
a  very  important  class  of  native   grasses,  which  occupy 
tlie  and  j)ortions  of  the  continent. 

In  further  notice  of  the  limitations  of  the  European 
grasses,  tlie  humidity  of  climate  must  be  considered 
ilie  dry  extremes  of  many  of  the  states  where  they 
may  generally  succeed  are  quite  injurious  or  destruc- 
tive in  many  cases,  and  this  is  especially  true  of  the 
states  at  the  West,  where  the  soil  is  less  tenacious  and 
retentive  than  at  the  East.  They  fail  to  form  the  charac- 
teristic turf  there,  and  are  so  much  injured  by  those  dry 


I '.','! 
ii>i 


:iiiil 


248 


NORTHEIIN    LIMJT    OF     GRASSES. 


!  ■        •'! 


\i       I 


V  II 


H't   r, 


periocls  as  to  become  displace.!,  or  to  doc.v  i^nulimllv 
It  nof  snd.lenly,  and  to  require  Ire.inei.t  reiieuul.  Tliis 
departure  trorn  the  native  climate  of  these  .-rasses  is  so 
g-reat  at  the  plan,  beyond  the  Mississippi,  .^s  to  require 
a  wholly  new  e  ass  ;  and  the  European  I'.rn.s  there  eJasc^ 
o  reappear  only  on  the  coast  of  the  J^ac-ihc,  in  Oregon' 
.in  AVaslnng.on  lerntones,  where  the  English  clin^ite 
)s  Itself  m  some  degree  reproduced. 

The  nortiu-rn  or  low  temperature  linu'ts  of  these 
grasses  appc.ar  nearly  identical  with  those  of  wheat; 
and  then  liability  to  destruction  by  the  cold  of  winter 
alone,  without  regard  to  the  lilting  of  the  plant  from 
the  sod  as  11.  the  case  with  wheat  on  tenacious  soils, 
does  not  greatly  dilfer.  The  grasses  will  perhaps  endure 
a  tew  degrees  lower  temperature. 

wiH!';vl''^l'^rf!'f'^"'"'.'""'^'^  '^''^  nearly  the  same  as 
with  w hyat  a  so.  taking  the  month  of  ripening  for  wheat 
as  the  liigi.est  temperature  for  any  month  of  the   year 
Ihe  range  ot   tiie  English  gra-ses  is  here  little  greater 
than  that  of  wheat,  m  this  definition.    As  in  cultivation, 

7ioV''7r'''VT  :?  ^"^  ™"''"  temperature  for  July  i, 
io  to  78  ,  while  the  limit  of  wheat  is  litde  above"70° 
tor  the  same  month.  In  cultivation,  without  unusual 
care,  they  would  not  differ  widely. 

There  is  a  possible  limit  also  in  low  summer  t<^mpera- 

mo    ho.'7r'';i  •■  '^.f  ^'"'"P=^'"'->  ^^•'■tl'  a  large  amount  of 
moi>  u.e  in  the  so,    a.ul  atmosphere.     We  are  not  able 

respect  as  for   wheat,  though   the   grasses   we  have  re- 
ceived b.m  there  will  not  go  mauAlegrees  lowe;   h  n 

h         o55°    o'r  ';'i'"""^    period, -probably  not   lower 
than  to  5o     or  the    warmest  month  of  summer  whil(> 
the  same  limit  for  wheat  is  above  57°.     In  tl  e  U  i  ed 
h  .  tes  1    inay  not  go  so  low;  though  the  question   is 
60°  f  ;.i  !l  """yf^"'-^'!"*'  '^«  ^^«  J'^^ve  no  districts  below 
bU    toi  July      In   cold  and  wet  localities  of  the  North- 
ern Mates,  the   difficulty  of  preserving  these  grasses  is 
well  known:  and   as  ,n  other  directions  of  limit,  they 
tai    gradually  under  measures  of  climatic  disadvantage 
not  absolutely  destructive.  ^ 


Til 


GRASSES    OP    AN    ARID    CLIMATE.  2i\) 

m-To^ ^r^'V^'l  ''^''  ""/  ^''''''''  '"^''^Ptc'l  to  arirl  oli- 
mates  may  advantageously  l,e  oxaiuinc>.l  noxt  au.l  these 

V   /.  continent,    where   they  are    rerniire,! 

Aur.t.ous  gras.ea  of  general  range  oxx-r  the  e  .  u  try 

^  mrlLST  "'r^"  "  |'-"i-^vIuIo  those  ^wn^ 

n    a  ticuiai  ioeaht.es  as  ,n  wet  or  sheltered   sju.ts,  or 

others  not  representing  the  general  surlaee,an.  .nite 

lean  glasses    s  the  Inmch  grass  (/W..m),  the  lu.lJalo 
m  ...;     ^'""'^^T'^"'""^'  '^>"1  the  other  speeies  of  grum^ 

J!^r^2::-  f '''"'"  h  /^"'  *'^^  '^^^^'  '^'- 1''«  f^'-'""ma 

grass  piopei,  as  given  by  Captain  Marcy  in  liis  Report 
lea.  tlie  parallel  ot  3(>°  north  latitude,  and  on  the  east 

'h  n  H  ■  "'V '"'f^'lV;.  In.t  appears  to  flourish  better  in 
about    he   latitude  of  33°  than  any  other.     As  there  is 

lir^of  Vf.;;1"T'''  ^!\/'""^^  ''^'-'^^  ^-™  '^^-^  the 

th.f  tl  ;  ^/-^  \'"  ""^^.'""  "*  ^"f^"-^*'  it  would  appear 
that  the  partieular  varieties  of  grass  growii,.-  here  do 
not  requm.  inueh  mcu'sture  to  sustain  them."  ^ 

to  fHtudo'ino^''-''';,"''  '"'"''  .^'■'^""^''''  ^^^'^'''l^  ^t  least 
ciated        o  '"n^'f   '"'""^   longitnd..  and   the  asso- 

ciated spee.es  called  mcquifc,  with  this,  cover  the 
est  portions  of  the  valley  of  the  (J.-eat  Salt  Lake  with 
the  entire  eountry  south  and  west  m.  which  rains  f, II 
a^^  se.ison.  This  whoie  foniily  i.  extrenle/^^^luahi: 
^>eedmg  p.-ofusely.  and  covering  eve.y  po.lion  of  the 
coun  .-y  whe.-e  suflicient  rain  for  its  g/ow  "  in  v  be 
ound  at  any  season     In  the  mountains  a  winter  vaViety 

v^lZ'  ;'"r-''i''l''"/,'''t'^'''''"  that  of  the  plains  and 
^  aUeN  .  is  ,b,ed  by  the  late  summer  heats.  Th,>  whole 
class  IS  adnni-ably  adapted  to  the  rerpiirement  of  the 
country,  as  they  remain  during  the  warmest  months  of 
summer,  and  until  the  rains  of  the  next  season  come 

Smmyholr         '"'  P'"""'""^  ""  ""^'-'^'^^   ^-^'ti- 
The  precise  time  at  which  the  heat  and  aridity  check 


i 


iii'M 


■firjpr- 


i  L: 

•i  '  1    j 

••iif' 

'ili' 

fl  ! 


lifi',    ! 


250 


THE    PHAIUIE    GRASSES. 


it^  g  owth,  and  convert  it  into  dried  huv,  is  not  suffi- 
<-.entlv  known  lor  the  dillorent  districts.  1  is  p.^bably 
control  ed  n.ore  l.y  al,senc-o  of  wuter  in  the  soH  nd 
wan  o  r.u.  than  by  ten.peruturo  -  the  lu.^  :dng 
Mdl cent  for  t  ns  parpose  when  the  w^ater  wholly  fuils^ 

„,  !";  r?!,'^'  ';"';;.'••;''  ^^"^^  ^^'-^''^  "-et  the  sn.alle,-  gram- 
ma ealled  he  hnilalo  grass,  at  38°  north  latitnde  and 
by  tiie.r  relerences  U  n.ight  be  inferred  that  1 1  i^'  wa s 
the  northern  border  at  that  d,..ree   of  ionuitnde.     lltl 

west'l";  rf  ''  '1  ''°'  ^r  ^''^'  •^""'^'  n.eridian,  and  980 
we.t  long  tude,  and  near  the  I'latte  or  Nebraska  Kiver 
It  probably  extends  still  further  northward,  ai  d  ove; 
mueh  o  tins  great  plain  to  the  Missouri.  There  are  no 
.at.s  aetory  notn-esof  the  grasses  of  this  grea  '  ^Ln" 

ne  rlv'a.'f?"'"^"   T"""'''^   ^''^^^   '^   ^'-''^   ^^ 
leJlsn'M;  rT  ^"''^'■^^<'''^-^'  ^'^  '^<l'>''ded  to  the  immense 

ve.ys  noith  of  the   M,sso,n-i   were,  however,  unable  to 
find  anyconsKlerable  amount  of  it:  and  Kieh  u  was 

^so  unable  to  find  the  bullUIo  grass  on  the  ^ask^tS 
wan,  though  at  the  tune  of  his  visit  recent  fires  had 
destroyed  the  growth  of  all  kinds.  He  rem  ks  a  arge 
ternnxture  o  c-ar.ees  with  the  festuca,  and  other  trfe 
Peo'loiT'   '"'  northern    portions  of  the    prairie 

The  new  forms  of  valuable  grasses  fomid  in  this  o-reat 
range  m  our  interior  deserve  the   greatest  attention  in 
leterence  to  their  mtrodueticui  in  field  cultivation     The 
native  species  of  the  prairie  region,  east  of  the  xAIissis- 
sippi,  probably  cannot  be    cultivated  —  they  give  way 
too  easily  at  the  approach  of  cultivation,  and  those  of 
tie  dry  prairies  are  rarely  found  in  seed,     'l^he  turf  of 
this_prairie  growth  is  very  strong  and  enduring;  and 
m   the   native   state  these    are    valuable    grasses,   well 
adapted    to   the    intermediate   climates    in    winch    they 
occur,  where  the   humid  and   dry  ccmditions  pass  into 
each  o  her  by  gradual  transition.      These  range  over 

OS    of  the  country  of  the  upper  Missouri,  as  well  as 
on  the  prairies  eastward. 

There  is  a  large  district  in  the  United  States  deficient 


ll-= 


CALIFORNIA    GUASSES. 


251 


lu  adaptation  to  our  present  cultivated  g-rassos,  to  which 

nay  l>e  possible   to   bring  those   of  The   interior  ult? 

uteiy.      Ihe   pra.ne   distncts  of  the   states   bordering 

n  htites   u,.e,ttly  need   some   better  adaptations   both 
to  then-  sod  and  chniate.     The  new  grasses  of  the  sout 
wes    w.nh    pn,babiy  not  find  a  congenial  clin.lt:  iH 

; le    ?.  y"""''t>':     V^t  for    the    drier   portions   of 

lie  s Ut(,s  HI     i.e  upper   Mississippi   vallev  they   niav  be 

'zi"f,:;r'li;'  fr"  ^"^^^'^  '^- ^^'--i/a/Sded 

<'UuiL^  CO  iiiDioduco  theni. 

They  are  perennials  of  as  great  endurance  in  the  turf 

oorLl         I     -1?   '-M'tn^.on   of  the   root,  am     ate  re- 
V  i       tl '     '"''  ^'''   """''■*^^  "^  t''''^  concentric   tufts  in 

•ooc.      liut  all  the  gr unnia  and  associat.NJ    a-rasses  uro 
luce   seed     trgely,  and   under    cultivation    t    ^T  ,n,Vh 

la  taiilornia  valuable  native  grasses  exist   in  rnrt  of 

hese  and  ,n  part  of  other   genera.     The  e  the    1  n  atl 

^  even  more  extreme  in  itsl^ontrasts,  aml^s  t  '  '£ 

V    u.  I  1.3   grasses    appear   to   be    annuals.      The   bunch 

^n:^rtl^:^^^^^^  ^''  ^rvalue. 

than  incaseoftlie  gnunmf.uftl''  T'  ^^''^'^r'''''^'^ 
no  attempt  at  it  yet^  i  Jh  "  ^''"'■^'  '^1  J"''^ ''=''•'•>'  '>een 
oat  grass'esand  annualsf,  ,•,  a  1  '"'  f  ^'"^^^"•^  ^''^"evs 
they  are  exclusive  oZuZ  t^^'^T^  '"'/  ^^'''^^''^' 
There   is  cortainlv  m         .^  '"'^  sufhc.ently  known. 

South  andW  '         .'     ti  ''"  '"  ™"'*  ."^^'"^  frrasses  of  the 
naceous  fb,;!:  wli  JtiJXt;'^'  '"  ''^'^^  ^--■ 

tlian  those  of  north.  •„  , ',  ^'"'''''^  "^"'"'^  "<^^»'-lv 

climates.  '  "  ""^■'"'  ^"^^  ^''^  "'^^'^^^^  of  humid 

grasses  are  greater  tha:!lthe^lLtic':;de^S^:j;: 


'2;V> 


UKAS8E8    OF    THE    INTERIOR. 


■  J 

i 

hi 
•I 

:i 

■' 

mis 


tiiieiit,  mul  they  are  also  Ikr  more  nnt.itir,,,  ■      r  i 
seci  seven  dillerent  kinds  of  cloved- "        I        \        "'''^ 

pnvaro  a,,H  .^l/iV;-;'::,,,:!:™*"'  «"-''--'™'  »f  both 
Fre.nont  remarks  of  tho  v.h.o  of  tliose  in.Iioenons 
gras.,.,,  as  r..m„l  ,„  l„s  earlier  expedirion  to  t  toZl 
BasM,  and  to  Oregon  :  "The  Brazing  cmMH,! ,7ml 
ret'ion  are  sreat,  and  in  tlie  indicenoni  <,.,«,.  .,, 
ment  of  individnal  and  national  we         ^i  av    ^       ,^,'^- 

the  s  ,ort  curly  grass,  on  which   the    hufFalo   <le   oj,     to 
feed  (whence  its  name  of  buffhJo  grass)  and  win'  J    • 
stdl  good  when  dry  and  appaJently'dead.     Welt  oi  the 


GRASSES    OF    THK    SOUTH.  263 

elling  caruvH  J  cm  find  sC  ^  eel    H    i!^  '""  ^'T'- 
Hiid  111  military  optM-aticns  any    ..L       f  .'''"'''' •" 

be  moved,  and  •  mv  t,.,,.,!       ^    '""'l'^''    of   cavalry  may 

tiuns,  and  even  in  wii  te    i^,  th^u      'T    ""f^'.^'^Pt'di- 

I^ittle  allu.sion  1. as     ,  f.      P^  si.eltored  s.timtion.s." 
fitted  to  the  c  inv      of  tl     1    '"•".  '.•"''"   ^"  ^'"'   ^'"^^^s 
These  hu  e  •  n  t^e'/ti  IK-    l\T^^^     districts  of  the  South, 
either  the  arid  rem'ms  <  '*  tl         ^^  '-eqiurement  Irom 
or  thr>   Hoi    f  I  1^  ,  ^''^'  interior  and  south-west 

•the   debatable  ground  between  these  a.ul  the  other 
"xtre„.e  m  the  cool  and  hmnid  climates  "f      I  n    , 

widely       "'  '^''''  ^"^'  '^'^y  ^'^"  -^-^  differ  still  moi-e 

Experiment  has  very  satisfactorily  proved  the  imoos 

unde  'tr^  "'"■•^■'■"^  '^''  ^''^^'^^  anVnortht      ;  res' 

the  ott  ff  ^M'"  ^^^"r'"^"'""  '''"d  l.umidity,  or 
entirih     f  1  ^^V^!^^^*^  '•J'^ber,  preclude  their  growth 

tntMeI^,  though  it  is  diffi,  ult  to  say  whether  either 
condi  ,on  alone  would  so  preclude  it^  Com  aring  he 
more  hum.d  climates  of  England  with  those    t  equally 

P  tur  ":;  ""  ''  '^'  f °"^i'''  "^  "^''e-J^*  '"^"-r  tha?  tern"; 
peratuie  alone  caused  the  difference  ;   but  positions  in 

tWates  near  the  39th  parallel  of  latiiude  h^^^    "npJr 

atures  m  summer  quite  equal  to  those  near  the  Gulf 

Agriculturists  at  the  South  have  scarcely  been  .uc 

tTn  oV  vatlf *'"'""  ''^^'".'^  ^--ntoihlintiodu-' 
n^esstv  of  nit ^ •'"''''•  ^'^^''-  ^'"'tivation  is  less  a 
mtTon  a^<  Tf  .r  ' v"^:?"  management  than  of  farm  occu- 
6UC  Mv'Cl  ^^<^'-^h.«nd  It  only  becomes  imperatively 
exh  n  H  "  P'-««ervation  of  the  soil  from  washing  and 
exhaustion  becomes  necessarv.  Such  is.  at  pr^-^nt  ^he 
«tate  of  much  of  the  cultivated  area  at  the  South:and  it 
22  J  " 


Mh 


254 


DIFFICULTY    OF    FOItMIXG     TUUF. 


is  Of  tl.o  first  i.„portance  to  k.u.w  u-l.otl.n-  tho    ,>o.mM- 
.M.t  oTHss  cc.vc.rn.g  ol  ti.e  noil  umy  L,u  uttui„e.l     v "  ^  ' 

not  so  fur  south      Tho.r  native  cli.uates  arc  no  t  ho 
the  native  f^mn.  .hstn.ts,  and  in  cooler  an.l  ,no  e       n    1 
amospheres;    uh.ie    the    southern    part  of  t   e Y   i 
States  has  at, up.cal  sumu.er,  nnd  hes  on  the    m,  of 
s.;lo  of  the  c-hnKaoh^Wcl    h-nnt.      \NV  eann<,t  a     i  -h    te 
success  n.  j,n-,isses  taken  fron.  the  cUlry  cxtren,    in  t    ' 
opposite    position,  un.l    prohnMy    very   htti'       .•      , 
adapted   to  dry  climate,    whether  uJu/  o     co       "S 
.  source  should  he    tropical    or  senH--tropical ;    and   such 

^  cu  tic  ted";  '"  "•'^"'  ''^'-"^-P-i-  intnulm!^' 
Hnrl    cultivated    to    some    extent    at    the   South       Th, 

Guinea   ,.rass  i  Sonjhurn  vahjare)   is  of  thi.s       j,         ,1 

the  i3e  niu,  a  .^rass   ( XV/.o.,/o/i   dactijlon).      The   las     is 

much  like  the  cane  in  its  root  and  habit  of  .^r  nvt  land 

<.th  are  purely  tropical  forms.    The  suirar  cam  is  'f  o  ? 

I  M|UMith    cultivated  a«  a  g,-,,,,    „.itl,  »„c,-,.s.  ,„„1  .,11 

these  are  „h>,o  easiK-  cullivat«l  aa  foraep  ,  h>,N  „ 

and  tin.  h.ni,..;„..i  uL'?:  "''^'  °^  '^.'"<^'*  '''«  g'-amma  grass 


-<      f, 


«.•  „ ,,   "V  .^'^«-^"-<'  may  near  a  cons  .  erahle  exten 

Cth    L   >  \''''"'  r^''^^"^'  '^'^^*  ''••^'■^1  portio  H  of  the 
succe:r         '"■'  "''*'"^>'  ^^^"  "^^-^--^  -ith  some 

Tt  ha8  been  found  extremely  difficult  to  form  a  close 
urf  or  .sward  below  the  latitudes  of  the  more  equa- 
ble distribution  of  rain  ;  and  thi,s  is  the  case  south  of 

often  long-continued  heat  and  drought.     Even  lucerne 


KFFECT    OF    SHADE. 


<Y  any 


25.T 


^vl.lch  grown  ,„  great  perfo.tmn  i,,  the  south  of  PrtuPo 

:-;i.:'::.";:t,:i:;:;:,r'"""^" '™"""'- 

III.,  gnmel.  „|  .,„«,  s,„„i,  uf  il,„  ,„„,,||,.|  „f  „,,.  ■ 

:::z:;:::''"Tv'7T'r'' .'in,,';ji,;:,',t, 

w::u:;;„tv'2:;;:r'?"i;.:r''''r  ':«"'"« 

,     ,  'f  1"    ''^^'  •i<-'h).sc'-cuItiVHtt'(    lurfis 

m-;  ,„„l   ,i,„  ..,.,,  i,  „,.    ^.„,,.  ^^  „l,c.aJy»„„,"J„  I 

of  «,.sl„„s,„n,«,.  ,,.,.1„„,.,  ,„u,l,  „,■  Bal,i,,.„,..,,,.r,   ■ 
'-    I"--    .■".„„„,■  y„.,,    „,„„    „,„,,    ,„    ,1,^,  J,,.  ,i,,     " 

ll.oug,   valMal.lc.  a,  /;„,,„..   p|a,„,,  ,|,ov   i.ocn.e   poor 

^  .  ly  e«,o„„H.,i  a„,J  „,.„  |<„„„„  ,„„e,  ,1,3  g,„„,;  J„ 
ot  "  CahfoniKi  clover." 

-climX':!f':;  ^^V^^^^^"^  ->-*  f.-  hoon  s.id,  that  the 
Climate  of  the  L  nitdl  State,  is  not  so  well  adar.ted   -w 

a  whoh.^ohrin,tl,e   higher  grasses  to  p.^ 

adapted    o  all  th.s  class  of  plants, -that  is.  to  promote 

^.•^nchl„xnr,anceofg,wth.     Tl,.  nutritivr,::!- 

t  cs  of  gia.s.s  grown   under  greater  heat  and  a  drier 

Umdmr  t(,  every  observn.g  f.vmer.     Grass  grown  in  a 
vet  season,  or  very  moist  climate,  bears  a  striking  re 
semblance  to  th.t  grown  nnder  the  shade  of  tree" 
The  remarks  of  a  practical  farmer  of  Kentuckv  well 

repl^  to  the  second  question  proposed  in  the  circular 
ffiven  on  a  preceding  page.  "  Just  so  fivr,"  savs  he  "as 
there  is  snade,  is  the  grass  deficient  in  saccharine '  and 


11 


II 


Ii  I  ^  ^ 


256 


HEAT    AND    MOISTURE. 


nutritious  qualities  ;  that  grass  which  is  most  exposed 

young  stcA  growurg,  and   old  ones  on  foot    but  wiM 
-     fatten    then.      A   tln-ee-,ea.-old  DuH.:;:'  wH    !' 
^tdll  tat    in  a  year  on  open  blue  grass  " 
A  iarmer  of  Massachusetts   smv<*  •    <<  n 

ing    ,    s.,y8  an  mlelligent  ,,n.ctia,i  Ikin.er,  "  I  sl,„„ld 

my   hat  ,„  a  wet  ,e„s„„  I  never  fonnd  anvt  ,i„«    k'    o 

rand,  heart  or  nntriment  in  hay  a,  in  a  dn-  one       )n„° 

grown  under  u  thick,  sha.ly  tree  is  not  worth  on    I  a  , 

a   .nnoh  „.  that  grown  in  the  .„n.     The  gra«.  tin    !"„ 

1856)  was  well  .et  in  the  spring,  „„,]  g,.tw  very  niick 

when  the  warm  weather  ca„,e  on;  bnt  still  we  had  ret 

good,  wa,™  8„„  to  bring  it  to  n,atnritv,  and  I  thi^  k 

■"    I,:'!,"     l;'!'-';  "'■"■""*  P'"^-^^h-«ot  <,„ite       we 
as  the  same  bulk  last  year. " 

nractin  ^f^  ""''^''^'Y  ^o  multiply  the  authorities  of 
PMct,cal  larmers  on  this  point,  since  they  uniformly 
eomcdew.th  the  testimony  given  above  ;  and  tnnv 
be^^rded  as  f^„ly  established  as  the  rJsult  b^h "f 
cent  he  'nvest.gat.ons  ..nd  of  practical  experience  th.t 
both  the  quantity  and  the  qualitv  of  gras^  a^  n'p  o 

l-;on  to.  the  heat  or  sunlight  and' he  ni:;-^^^^^^ 
"  men  It  18  erown. 

What  has  been  said  will  explain  the  allowance  which 


III 


COMPEXSATIOAS.— SNOW, 


257 


to  provide  fo      he  B'lllT  ''''''"'°"'  "°'""='"  "'"""^ 
and  almost  hour  v  Jnf        ?^'""'?'''  "■'"'  ""'"■  ^xily 

cult  to  put  i„  the  p  r;  7    T^''- "  '''""""'y  "'ffi 

stock.  "^  °P"  ■'"°'''''  °*  '""ter  food  for  our 

-ome  of  the  higher  nor  hir,  I,  !  .  "  "PPrehended  in 
milder  climates^  I„  ,1  et  !''''''  "•«"  ■"  -mewhat 
of  Maine,  for  instance  ,,";'!'""'"  '""^  '=»"«"  Portion, 
tl.e  frost  has  pe  e, raied  ,o     "  """"''""^  ^^'"^  '«f»- 

and  as  soon  as  it  is  gone  the  L  •  "''""«  "'"'"'  • 
r.ant,and  the  sod  readv  for  thf'T'  '",  ^'T  ""'^  '"■<"■ 
ington  the  cultivated  JZ  '^f' '  "''"'"  '"  ^^'a*!- 
both  by  the  colds  of  w^ntr  Vr.,"'^'"*^'-''  *-'"-".V<") 
and  this  verv  freouent"  ,  "'"'*''<' ''<'■■>'»  of  summer: 
tlian  in  higher  l.tit,  ^  "  7r'P«"''-niore  fre,,uentlv 
of  the  colli':;  r^f^i-^^-h-e  «-  actual  siverit! 

cold  and  warmth  ra  he-  ,V     I   f  1"""  """nation  of 
«ure,  that  is  tio 't  i^'t'io     "i  ""  '"'^ ''"»?'-ce  of  temper. 
rar„K„,._    ,      7 '"Ju^ous  to  vemfatinn 

W.  have  already  seen  that  in  the  Middle  States  sonte 


i  i'l 


258 


THK    GRAMMA     GRASSES. 


Of  the  species  of  Poa~  such,  for  instance,  as  the  Ken- 
ky  Blue  grass  ^Poa  ,.m^...s/.)  __  app,,'  ,,  ,  ^^^ 
le.tcl,as  among-  the  most  miportant  pasture  p-asse.     Thi' 
«  H>eu.s  .s  known  as  Green  grass  ii  Pennsylvania'    I 
-nl  also   to   bear  the  hottest  sumn.ers  i.f  Te  nessee 
where  ,t  ,s  reckoned  one  of  the  best  grasse         fi  f  ^ 
grows  w.th  the  utmost  luxn.ianee  in  Kentuel  v  a  d  ' 
^.r  north  as  Ind.napolis,  in  wooded  pastur^  t^d  ^ 
a  large  p..oportum  of  the  turf  even  in  Ne^  EngLTd 
1  hi    and  nearly  alhed  species  are  not  adapted  \,o\t^f; 
to  alternate  husbandry.  u,uo^^cver, 

Beyond  the  limits  Jf  these  on  the  south  the  Gramm. 
^;e  G«.nea,  and  the  Bermuda  grasses,  t^ke  t^T^! 
Hhile   the   snga'-eane  itself  is  not  unfrequently   culti 
^^  as  a  fodder  plant.    Some  of  the  f^stuci^    ^  '^t 
well,  and  w.thstand  the  hot  climate,  and  fo  m  a  vahn 
ble  winter  feed  for  cattle.     They  are  known  there  bt" 
he  term  'winter  grass."     In  many  sections  al"   t  he 
Common  Beed  Grass  (P/.m,.i../oo.«...^.)tnV 
ahied  species  cover  the  low  grounds,  and  afford  a  large 
amount  of  nutritive  herbage,  till  cut  off  by  the  frost!- 
while  on  the   dry  plains  west  of  these   sections,  the' 
gramma  grasses,  or,  as  they  are  of>en  called,  the  Meznuite 
(one  or  more  of  the  species  of  Boutdona,,  become  the 
most  valuaUe  of  the  native  species  found  in  a  belt  of 
counto- w,th  .bout  the  ^hirty-fiftl,  parallel  as  its  centre. 
11.3  Buffalo  grass^  ,,  ,^,,„   ^,.^^^^^^   .^   ^^^  ^ ,.  ^^^^^^ 

^pec,es  found  as  far  north  as  the  fortieth  parallel. 

adantp/r"'T'.^r"'''  ""''  ^'^'"'^'^'^  ^^""^fl-  '-^^  being 
adapted  to  a  I  t  chmate.  Tbeir  growth  is  mainly  in  th^ 
ra.ny  season,  and  they  seed  abundantly  as  th"  dry  season 

State  of  Arkansas,  the  rainy  season  is  in  the  sn^in!^  • 
m  the   northern  part  of  Mexico  it  i,   in  ^   ^ ' 

sontbfirn  T..„       •         ,       ^♦A«xico,  It  13  m  Summer ;  in 
southern  Texas,  m  autumn,  and  in  some  part,  of  New 


t,.:Z^ 


s  the  Ken- 

0  tako  the 
s*i*e?.  This 
inia.  It  is 
Tennessee, 
S  '^vliile  it 
'9',  and  as 
and  forms 

England, 
however, 

Grramrna, 
the  lead  ; 
t'y  culti- 
Iso,  grow 

1  a  valua- 
there  by 
hIso,  the 

'  and  its 
d  a  large 
?  frosts  ; 
ons,  the 
Jezquite 
orne  the 
belt  of 
:  centre. 
)f  these 
lei. 

?  being 
y  in  the 
'  season 
om  the 
spring  ; 
ler;  in 
•f  New 


CLIMATIC     U.vNGE     OF    GRAINS.  959 

luted  chieflv  bv  the  riin  T    '^  '"''  ^'"''"G"  '•^-•"'- 

'.\  ".V  riK,  lains     but  even  when  drv  tim,.  r 

H  vorv  nutritive  food  for  stock.  '         '      ''"' 

^>H    the    western    [.rairies    but    feu-    v.l.    11 
p--ses  are   fbund.     While  tl  e     .n        n        '    '    ''''''' 
^viid   tlu-v  cover  thn         ,}[''>    '"*'   "Il''^v<'<l   to  grow 

reiornnt.-^ht5;:l::--X^^^^ 

such  as  ^^'  n^i'^'    ''"""^    '"^"^^   -^"  t-'   ;^rains. 
<'i-pter  it  hide  t^r\"''";  r^''"-^  ^P^^ 

came  to  us  naturahVed  h  ?    ".  ™''''*  ^"''■"^''^^^''  <>'• 

o-own.  Thet:;.^r;;™i;;-trr;r^''^^ 

parts  of  this  country    thcupl     '     >'''^'  '"  *''^^  ^"^lor 

with  the  exception  o^;i:tn:f.^;-'^^;;,;^^ 
southern  nortif)n^  fl.,.,.„-        ,       .)8't,.u.     In  the  more 

come.,  o,r  T      ptii  f?        '■"  "'"  ''"'■'''■y  "■«»"'<■'• 
seen,  are  <,es„:;edt  il   *™""''  "^  "^  '-™  '"™<'.v 

at,t„de,,tw,ll  npen  in  ,™  „nd  a  l.alf  or  tlne'o  „„„„" 
and  rarely  reqniros  over  fonr  mnnihs.  A  small  varietv 
.«  c,,lt,vated  n.  far  north  a.  fiftvone  decrees  o  a  .? 
on  he  Red  R.ver.  It  requires  great  snmmer  heats,  h,  t' 
wd  often  sueoeed  well  in  the  northern  states  will,  , 
cuoi  and  rainy  summer,  provided  there  is  a  week  or  two 


260 


(    r 


i^ 


GROWTH    OF    INDIAN    CORN. 


of  hot  weather  in  the  month  of  June  or  ear!^  in  Julv 
imd  a  late  tall   with   warm   weather   at    Ihe 'period  of' 
npenmg      It  will  not  endure  a  mean  temperature  below 
(>^    m   the  growing  season,  but  the  morning  and  even- 
ing  temperature  may  be  h.w,  provided  the  mi<l(lav  heat 
IS  sufficient  to  carry  up  the  mean  of  the  month  beyond 
that  pomt.     This   higl,  curve  of  heat  at  midday  is  so 
<vssential  that,  without    it,  there  will   be  no  formation 
nt  sacclmn.      matter  in  M.e   plant,  nor  will  it  mature- 
while  with   u  the   temperature  of  the   night   may    be 
<iuite  low.     This  is  one,  and  almost  the  only,  condition 
absolutely  essential  to   its   successful  culture,  and  thi^ 
condition  IS  fultilled  in  almost  every  part  of  the  coun- 
try, except  the  mountainous  districts  above  mentioned 
As  a  means  of  reference,  the  following  may  be  given  as 
the  results  of  observations  at  the  Observatorv  at  Cam- 
bn.lge  during  the  growing  months  of  1854,"l855,  and 
loot),    which   do    not   vary   much    from    the    moan    or 

average   temperatuie  of  these  months  in  any  series  of 
years. 

The  observations  were  made  four  times  a  day  —at 

42"o"48'    ti  1"  '-rf  ^n   ''  ""•'   ''''  ^-titude  'being 
4^    JJ  48  ,  the  longitude  71°  1'. 


Months, 


Mean     I 
Temp,  ill 
18M. 


Rnin  in 
1854. 


March, 

April, 

Mvy,      

•luue, 

•fuiy,    ..... 

■■*'»SU9t I  680^6 

September,     ,    .    ,    .     gio  4 


33  .1 
42^9 
57^7 
65°,9 
72^.9 


Inches. 

2.949 

4.842 

5.453 

3.58o 

3.239 

0.361 

4  360 


_Mciin 
Temp,  in 

1H.W. 


32-.  81 

44\08 

r)3\40 

f)5".48 

72  .24 

67^31 

61^.45 


Rflin  In 
I8,V). 


Inches. 

1.159 
3.990 
1.501 
3.681 
4.845 
2.270 
1.218 


-h- 


'     Moan 
Temn.  in 


Rnin  in 

law. 


26^.98 
46". 82 
62  ..'56 
68  .08 
72  .70 
67  .31 
62-.98 


Inches. 

0.970 

3.732 

6.732 

2.869 

4.243 

14.981 

The^season  of  1858  was  remarkable  in  most  parts  of 
iNcw  England  as  a  season  of  frequent  rains  and  cool 


Hnin  in 
IHifi. 


CLIMATIC     RAx\GE    OF     WHEAT.  261 

^^!^-  ft  "'^\,^"^-t'  --1  n^eUnuors  generally 
tie  u,^  erlT  T",  '"  —-oP,  and  wondered  i 
^ec  e  of  It  undoubtedly  was  that  the  last  week  of  June 
anci  ^e  hrst  week  of  July  were  excessively  hot,!':; 

t  abound      Vr""  "'"   ""-^-%-ol  and  n.oift. 

i  ir  ground  had  become  wanned  to  a  great  depth   and 

-   was  sufhc.ent   to   give   the  plant  a   rar>id  g'^v 

hrough  the  rest  of  the  growing  sLson.     Every  p  rof 

e   country  ,s,  therefore,  adapted   to  Indian    ,3     i, 

t^e  excep„on  ol   the  higher  n.onntainous  parts  of  Nw 

li^ngland,  and   northern  New  York,  and  northern  ^V^T 

consin  and  Minnesota.  ^'uicin   u  i>- 

protitab  e  ,t  ks  true,  owuig  to   their  extremely  limited 
auge  of  chmate  :  buf,  as  a  plant  for  the  whole'co     t  • 
no  other  can  cou.pare  with  it  in  importance. 

ihe    climatic     range    of  wheat   and    barley    is    still 

above  the  level  of  the  sea,  on  the  borders  of  the  trop- 
icus   wh.le   wheat   n.ay  be   cultivated    as   far  north  ts 

circle      T        I"      ^  ''  ''''''''  ^^^^"^^   *«   ^'^    P"'- 

vl  V  ;■.  n  "T  7  ''"^'  "^"  ''"''  ^°««  not  mateHally 
vaiy  from  that  of  wheat.  ^ 

;  But,  though  the  absolute  range  of  climate  for  wheat 
IS  greater  than  that  of  Indian  corn,  there  are  n.ore  local 
condmons  which  affect  it,  and  hence  its  most  profitable 
limit  of  cnltivation  mny  not  be  much  greater 

moTJTT  f  *''"  '■^•""^'•^  ^^h'«'»  correspond 
TurLT  ■'  ,  t'"  f''^"'  ^^''-^t-^^owin,.  sections  of 
Europe  m.y  be  found  in  central  New  York.  Penn.vl- 
vnn.a,  and  a  part  of  Maryland,  and  a  secw'  ..  throuo-l.  t he 

Ukes,  „  clud.ng  the  pra.ne  lands  west  from  lake  Michi- 
gan,     in    these    sections    the    mean    temperature   of 


ill 


Ai>2 


THE    WHEAT    DISTRICTS. 


summer  ninoes  from   (JS°  to  7l°  ..n,?  fU  ■       - 

-^Vom  Gl^triio  I't""':"*^'"^^^-^"--^''- 
extends  into  June  .nifl  ■^^'""  '^''  ^^''^^^^  '"^^^'^''^t 
«3"  to  65°  Ibr  AI  V  ;;  V  ;«: "' .  ^-»P--ture  i.  from 
central  x\ew  Yo  "k'  1  '  !  ""  '"'  ' '°  ^'^'-  •^""^"'  "''"''^  - 
tl.0  mean  temp^t  ato     ^T  '^'^"'^  ^'^^"  ^"'^ '  -"' 

A^     I.      1      .    »  F"-''irUH.  <){  May  ,^  I  (.J., 

"■I  .-t.c<."-e  affoct  it.  TI,es,,,„Crofr  ''•""■ 
h"d,  ,.„.  iMstanoe,  >vn»  „,,„„t  two  ," oel  ,■  > '  ;';'" 
average  of  mean  tc-i„,,<3i„turo  ■„„1  tl,o  ,^  '  "'"•' 

»'■■'' f e .,.eat cop ,ii, „„',•;;  .  rrcir'vr 
..  .ood  „a,.ve»t;  te  j'iL  ro;7,;';T.  jiv''^'  "",'""■'■■' 

.;«"l.v  rosemlJes  the  climate  of  wo    e-nK^,  ,,'"':  "'"'I' 
■i"-  tl.at  of  our  own  Atlantic  coa.t  '"  ""'"  " 

wiil  be  valnable  for   oTro" L  '     ™"""-^' ''""  "'  E-ope, 


April. 

Gett.v.sbiirp,  Pa 5Q0  3 

RiKlip.ster,  N,  Y 44:. 7 

OI)erlii),  Oliio,   ....  48-.I 
Milwaukie,  Wis.,  .    .    "  4o.'7 

March. 
Chapel  Hill,  N.  C,  .  .  ftic.i 
Athens,  Gn.,     ....  550^ 


Mtiy. 
60  .6 

59'^.  4 

April. 
59^.5 
fi4°.0 


June. 
69^^.2 
65°.0 
67".6 
64°.8 

May. 

69^.  1 


July. 

740 

G9°.9 

75".5 
09'^  S 

JUi.P, 

.4 


T-mrrrawmwij  •**. 


COVKRIXd    OF    SNOW. 


2G3 


March. 

49^4 

Fort  McKavett,  Tex.,  .  67''.4 

.  G3".2 

May. 
.  GT'-.O 
.  62^^.3 
.  50-.0 
.02  .1 
.  f)l  .9 
.  54-.4 
.  5tV  .3 
.  51' .6 


Nashville,  Tenn., 
Fort  McKiivett,  T 
Saci'iimeiito,  Cal., 

York,  Ki)g.,  .  .  .  . 
Aberdeen,  Scotland, 
Epping,  I'.'tig.,  .  .  . 
L»ant/.ic,  Baltic,  .  . 
Konigsbeig,  Baltic, . 
Moscow,  Russ.,  .  . 
Bucharest,  Uuss.,  . 
Kasan,  Uuss 


Miii'cli. 
Beyrout,  Syria,  .  .  .  (iF.a 
Alexandria,  Egypt,  .  .  02^.2 
Palermo,  Sicily,    .   .   .  54^.0 


April 
()V-.'J 
6G'^.2 
5'J^.5 

Junu 

til  .2 

&0-.7 

60'.0 

69^.3 

57°.4 

62^5 
til-, 3 

April. 
6r)".3 

58".6 


May 
C8-3 
72-.2 
0O-.2 

.Inly. 
G2  .4 
58'. 8 
G2-.2 
63-.0 
62%6 
66- .4 
68^.1 
64.8 

May. 
71-.3 
70-.3 
64  .8 


June. 
76^5 
74  .9 
71.7 

Au(,'U9t 

63  .5 
SS-'.O 
60^.9 
62^9 
6P.7 
63^.1 
65'^.  2 
60".8 

Juno. 

75^.4 
76".2 
7'°.2 


Winter  wheat  generally  succeeds  best  ^vlien  the 
ground  is  covered  with  snow;  and  if  this  protection  is 
wanting,  it  is  not  unirequently  winter  killed.  It  some- 
times happens,  also,  that  a  covering  of  snow  affects  it 
lu  such  a  manner  as  to  destroy  it  entirely  or  in  part;  and 
this  IS  the  case  when  the  snow  is  too  compact,  so  as  to 
prevent  the  access  of  air  for  a  considerable  period.  On 
a  clay  soil  the  frost  often  acts  mechanieallv,  produc- 
ing what  IS  called  heaving  by  the  frost.  Other  influ- 
ences of  soil  and  culture  aflect  the  growth  of  wheat 
probably  to  a  greater  extent  than  that  of  In.lian  corn 
and  the  same  applies  more  or  less  to  the  other  grains 
mentioned  in  the  second  chapter. 

The  northern  range  of  these  grains,  particularly  that 
ot  barley  and  rye,  is  somewhat  greater,  and  the  diifer- 
emu3  may  be  stated  at  about  five  degrees  of  mean  tem- 
P3i-ature,  which  would  embrace  several  degrees  of  lati- 
tude.  JiaHey  grows  further  north  than  any  other,  but 
both  barley  and  rye  will  endure  cooler  and  shorter 
summers,  and  a  somewhat  poorer  soil. 


'  I     * 


264 


GIIOWTH    OF    UAULEY. 


Oats  succeed  ratlier  better  than  wlm.f  • 
more  variuble  one.   JiuT    ,'^''>  '^'"^  ''^^ont  (Ja°  in 

..".n.,o.tw:;::,:]ri:::;z:ni:Hr„r''«'' 

111"-  to  iiTifiivi'fi-      T  .  'to  "^"^  time  01,  com- 

dew,  smut,  and  other  similar  injuries  '  "''" 


IJ 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

SELECTION,  MIXTURE,  AND  SOWING,  OF  GRAS8- 

SEl  D8. 

In  general,  too  little  attention  is  paid  to  the  selection 
o    seeds,  not  only  of  the  grasses,  but  of  other  cultivated 
plants.      I  he  iarmer  cannot  be  sure  that  he  has  good 
seed  unless  he  raises  it  for  himself,  or  uses  that  raised 
in  Ins  ne.ghborlmod.     He  too  often  takes  that  which 
has  passed  through  several  hands,  and  whose  ori.nn  .e 
cannot  trace      Bad  or  old  seed  n.ay  thus  be  bought  in 
the  behef  that  it  ,s  good  and  new,  and  the  seller  himself 
may  not  know  anything  to  the  contrary.     The  buvei- 
m  such  cases,  often  introduces  weeds  which  are  very 
difhcult  to  eradicate.  "^ 

The  temptation  to  mix  seeds  left  over  from  previous 
years  with  newer  seed  is  very  great,  and  there  can  be 
-no  doubt  that  It  is  often  done  on  a  large  scale.  In  such 
cases  the  buyer  has  no  remedy.  He  cannot  return  the 
worthless  article,  and  the  repayment  of  the  purchase 
money,  even  if  he  could  enforce  it,  would  be  but  p.  ■'• 
compensation  for  the  loss  of  a  crop. 

The  seeds  of  some  plants  retain  their  vitality  much 

onger  than  others.     Those  of  the  turnip,  fin- instance, 

vdi  gernnnate  as  well,  or  nearly  as  well,  at  the  age  of 

our  or  five  years,  as  when  only  one  or  two  vears  old  • 

.ev.n-e  thought  to  be  better  at  two  years  old  than  one' 

iiu*  ^  .e  seeds   of  most  of  the  grasses  are  of  very  little 


23 


f.'^eri) 


( 


f! 


M 


w   i< 


f'    , 

ill       !l 

:    III 


W[\ 


>.         1 
i 


2«6 


GKRMINATIVB    POWER    OF    SEEDS. 


value  when  ti.ey  h.vn  been  kept  two  or  three  voar«  • 
'tu.Ihc.n.o  the  i.ui,u,(.uKo  of  procun.,o.  new  u.ul  fresh 
seeds  and  gn  mI,,.^  ...umt  any  nnxture  of  the  old  and 
worthless  Willi  the  new  as  carefullv  hs  possible. 

It  IS  easy  to  tell  whether  the  gecuinadve  power  of 
grass  or  anv  other  seed  still  remains,  by  the  following 
simple  method:  and,  if  the  buyer  .b.-Id  be  willing  to 
try  It,  ho   might  purchase  onl.    „  small  .piantity  at  first 
*;"^1  ^'fterwards  obtain  his  full  supply  with  more  oonfi' 
dence,  it  the  trial   showed   it  to  be  good.     Take  two 
pieces  of  thick  cloth,  moisten   them   with  water,  and 
place  them   one  upon   the   other  in  the   bottom  of  a 
saucer.     I  lace  any  number  of  seeds  which  it  is  desired 
t .  iry  upon  the  cloth,  spreading  thin,  so  as  not  to  allow 
them  to  cover  or  touch  each  other.     Cover  them  over 
with  a  third  piece  of  cloth,  similar  to  the  others,  and 
moistened  in  the  same  manner. 

Then  place  the  saucer  in  a  moderately  warm  place. 
^ufhc.cllt  water  must  be  turned  on,  from  time  to  time,  to 
keep  he  three  thicknesses  of  cloth  moist,  but  great  care 
must  be  taken  not  to  use  too  much  water,  as  this  would 
destroy   the   seed.     There    should  be  only  enough  to 
moisten   the  cloths,  and  not   enough  to  allow  any  to 
stand  ,n  the  saucer.     Danger  from  this  source  may  be 
avoided  in  a  great  measure,  however,  by  tipping  up  the 
saucer  so  as  to   r^ermit  any  sup  rfluous  water  in  it  to 
dram  olT.      I  he  cloth  used  for  covering  mav  be  gently 
raised  each  day  to  watch  the  progress  of  tJie  .^yelnna; 
or  the  moulding  of  ^I.r  ,see<ls.     The  good  scd  will  be 
found  to  swell  grauu.lly,  while  the  old   or  poor  seed 
which    has    lost   its    germinating   p(,w.v,    will    become 
mouhJy  m  a  very  few  days. 

Tn  this  Avay,  also,  any  one  c  -ude-  whether  old  seed 
|s  mixed  with  new  The  la-:  .  germinate  much 
mo.e  quickly  than  the  former.     [le  eao,  moreover,judge 


;l 


SELEt-nON    AND    MI.NTUInj. 


;(;7 


"f  (1,0  n,.„„ti(,v  ,vi,ici,  :,„  ,„„,t  „„„.,  „■„,,„ 

U  y  to  «.,,,„„.,,„, ,u„In,„  ,-.,,.,la,„  ,,i„  »„„,„^.  „,,,„,,. 

lr.-l.,  w,ll  ,l,..„-  ,l,oh-  germ.  „ „  t,,;,,,,',,,  ,„„  ",  \      '' 

"11.0.-  »o„cl.,  «ill   „.ko  alit.lo  l„„sor;   l„„,  IM        o       ,' 

.■"me  c„„,o,i  w„i,  ,„„„,,,,  ,1,,,,  ,:,,    ,  ,„:  „„i ';  ,.^; 

and  tl,c  SOO.I  tl,«l  ,m„il,l.  i„  ,v.,ri|,lL.'«  "'•'^"•'vt, 

It  .s  ,1,/licult  to  ovo,-,,.s(i„„ao  the  hupoih,,,,-,.  to  (1,0 

Xnli :;::;;."'  '  '"■'™""""  """"■"^'■'  '"•  '-■■  - 

l>ouMio8,  the  variotios  of  seed  usuallv  »o,v„  in  tl.n 

ountry,  oon«„tn,g  „l,„ost  oxclnsivel,-  of  Tin,..,l,v  Id 

-    <■  .,  w„l,  a  nnxture  of  .-ed  olovo,,  a,,,  an.ong      e 

'■•.xt  loi-  o,„-  p„n,„sos,  and  tlioi,-  exclusive  use  is   in  •, 

measure  ,,n,,.,ionod  l,v  ,1;„  ex,,e,ion,v  and  p,,,oiiee,; 

a      les     t,ume,s;   yet  ,t  would    seen,   very   slinngo 

■ndood   d  tins  vast  finnily  „C  pl„„ts,  consisting  of  tW 

sands  ot  s,K.,.,es  and  varieties,  an.l  including,  as  al,ea,l,- 

r    u^td,  nearly  a  sixt „,  of  tlre  whole  vege,     1 

ko.gdom,  could  furnish  no  more  than  two  or  three  truly 
vHi liable  species.  •' 

When  we  consider  also,  that  some  species  are  hest 
-^apted  to  one  Ceah'ty,  and  others  to  another,  some 
•aclnn^  then-  fullest  and  most  perfect  dev  opment  on 
clay  so,|>,  and  some  on  lighter  loams  an<I  sands  we  .  an- 
not  bnt  wonder  that  the  practice  of  sowin,.  only  Tim.  - 
thy  and  redt„p  on  nearly  all  soils,  -  clay;  loams  and 
sands  „KhsenminateIy,- both  on  hi,h  Ind  lov  i  nd 
should  have  become  so  prevalent. 

It  is  eqnally  remarkable  that  while  bnt  very  few  of 
our  grasses,  and  these  for  the  must  part  specie^  peculiar 


•    . 


i 


:P 


2Hii 


M  MBKR    OF    HPECIKS    REyuISITB. 


to  Htenle  soils,  flourish  nlono,  but  n.arly  all  ,lo  best  with 
.;  -xtu.o  ot  several  npeeies,  ,t  shuul.l  s./  '.  J  ! 
'--  'H-'  tl.ou,ht  ju.licwuus  n>  ,ate.npt  to  grow  o  I  t w  . 
,-,nnH.nr  sp...  tc^ethe.    with  u.rel^ 

tMu  an.n.r  hereon,  p;;:i;:!;:/;rh:,t'Cti:x 

''"'••'->,  of  a   betto     c,   ah  Tl  e  1    r"""'T   "  '""'''"' 

•         •'•      Al't-'so   C()i)si(|eratinn«    it 

-::  will'  -del  .l",:,'""-^'""", '"  ''"  ""'in."t«Mc, :  tl,Ht  a„v 
produce  a  less  a„H,u„t  „f  l,ay  (1„„,  „,„  l,o  „l,tain,.,l  I 

i^.vci  I  'Lichs  true,  that  if  we  sow  but  (.no  I-iiui 

be  fit,  ';.;'",■"'''','''■'''"«■''""' ""'  I"-"'.  "■i,i..i,  will 

also,  where  o,,!,-  twu,  or  a  small  „„,„be,,  .,f  .t:^^: 


t-   i 


m»«p< 


FOLLOWINMJ     NATlfKK. 


269 


H  -own;  Hlwlo,  >fa  n.ixtu.c  ,na.lo  up  ola  lar^or  n,.ml,or 

>"    -tecs  an.l  procueo  u  lar  better  .juality  ..f  herbage. 

s.uM.g  such  a  mixture  of  several  .liilbrent  sptcies, 

-      ,    .„    lo  Inw  nature,  wlu,,  alter  all,  will  generLl>-  b.. 

««'U,ul  to  be  the  be«t  teaela-r:  lor,  wherever  we  oust  our 

oe  from  filteeu  to  twenty  species  of  grass   or  torage 

y    its.     If  the  soil  be  very  poor,  as  a  coM,  ha,  |  ,|av 
or  a  barren  sau.l,  perhaps  two   or  three  v,  rieties     i  i 
suffice  ;  but  on  good  soils  a  larger  nun.ber  will  b    fl  , 
to  be  far  more  profitable.  '"  ' 

Especially  is  this  the  case  where  the  land  is  to  be  lef\ 
n.  grass  for  son.e  years,  and  eventuallv  to  be     Is  u red 
as  .soften  done  in  New  England;  for  it  is  th^.^i 
o  huve  grasses  that  reach  their  maturity  at  d  Hbre 
■naes  as  a  constant  succession  of  good  feed  t  r o  ;, 
t^e  season  may    hus  more  surely  be   obtained.     Is 
well  known  that  there  is  no  n.onth  of  spring  or  sun  nu 
m  ^v^nch  some  one  of  the  grasses  doeslt'.ltai      " 
e  fect.on,  if  we  except  the  n.onth  of  March,  and  even 
bnngs  up  a  luxuriant  growth  in  the  mor    soutle 
J'^t.tudes.     For  good  soils,  eight  or  ten  species  of  the 

;;nnr;:b:^:;:;t:bt:'^^^^^ 

efove     and  th'Tt  v     "T''''  ''"^  ''"""^'^^ '  ^''^^'P'  -'•' 
Liover,  ana  tliat  very  lartre  rron«  nf  fi,^,. 
(V  •     ,     ,  -^  ""b"-   <-iops  01  tliese  grasses  ar(> 

o  ten  ra,sed ;  but  it  is  nevertheless  true  that'we  olt 

n  an  average,  I^ss  than  a  ton  to  the  acre,  while  with 
tl.e  same  culture  and  a  larger  number  of  species  vl 
ought  to  get  double  that  quantity  ^         ' 

Before   proceeding   to   consider  the   proportions   in 


270 


BUYIN(;    BY    \VI-]T(;ht. 


winch  ti.e  d.flerent  species  should  be  anxe.l,  it  may  be 
veil    o  .eler  to  the  n.ode  generally  adopted  io.  "tlat 

H'g  the   <p„nt,t.es  of  seeds  and  their  rdative   weid' 

And  1  n.ay  rennu-k  here  that  the  prevailing  practice  of 
n,,.^  and  so..,  ,.    _,ds  by  .^ 

by    Nught,  ,sH.,us  M.judic.ous,   to  sav   the  least.      It   is 

vh.ch    IS  f.csh   and  new.      Now,  if  a  fanner  buys  by 
e.ght  even  ,    he  does  get  an  old  or  interior  quality 
f  see<U>e  gets  a  much  larger  nun.ber  of  seeds,  and 
tins   larger  quantity  of  seed  which  h.   receives  for  his 
money  mny  make   up  for  the  inferior  quality,    and  he 
vd    have  a  larger  number  of  seeds  cnpable  of  germ- 
natnm    han  he  would  have  if  he  bought  by  measure. 
It  IS    o  be  regrette.!  that  it  has  become  so  nearly  uni- 
versal to  purchase  by  measure,  though,  as  this  course 
hn  the  seller's  advantage,  it  may  be  difficult  to  change 
the  custom.  " 

The  following  table,  containing  the  weight  per  bushel 
't  th-^  r.eds  of  the  most  important  agricultural  grasses 
.as  been  prepared  chiefly  from  a  valuable  treatise  on' 
he  grasses,  by  the  Messrs.  Lawson,  of  Edinburgh,  who 
have   paid  much  attention  to  this  subject,  and  whose 
experience  and   observation    in  this  department  have 
probably  been   larger  and  more  extensive  than  those 
01  any  other  seedsmen. 

This  table  will  be  found  to  be  exceedingly  valuabh- 
lor  reference. 

Column  1  contains  the  common  names  of  the  grasses. 
Column  2,  the  average  number  of  pounds  in  a  bushel 
01  ti.e  seeds. 

Column  3,  the  average  number  of  seeds  in  an  ounce. 

Column  4  shows  the  depth  of  soil,  in  inches  and  frao 
tions  of  an  inch,  at  which  the  greatest  number  of  seeds 
germinate. 


■WMM 


WEIGHT.  — DEPTH     OF     COVEIUNO. 


271 


Table  XiV.  —  Weight  of  Grass-seeds,  and  Depth  of 

CoVERhNG. 


Wliitutop, 

Ilcltop, 

ruftoil  Hair  Grass,  .  .  , 
Alcaduw  Foxtiiil,  .  .  .  . 
Swet't-souiitud  V'eruui,     . 

Tall  Oat  (Jrasi, 

Sloiider  Wlii'at  Orass,  .   . 

(-'rustoil  Dojj's-tail,    .    . 

Oi-clianl  «iiMss, 

Il.tnl  j-Vsouc-, 

Tall  tV-seui' '    ' 

SlKiep's  Ftsuuf,     .... 

MuaUow  Ff.scui',   .... 

SlundiT  Sinknil  Fescue,    . 

K-'<1  Fescue, 

Ri!uil  Meadow  Grass, 

C^Jiiiinoii  .Mi.'ina  Grass,   . 

Meadow  Sift  Grass,  .   .   . 

Italian  Ilye  Grass,  .   .   . 

Perennial  Rye  Grass,  .    . 

.Millet  Grass, 

Reed  Canary  Grass,  .  . 
Timothy, 

Wood  .Meadow  Grass,  .  . 
June  or  Spear  Grass,  ,  , 
Rougli-s-ulk.d  Meadow,  , 

Heach  Grass, 

Yellow  Oat  Grass,    ... 

Ke{l  Clover, 

Perennial  Clover, 

White  Clover, 

Lucerne, 

Sauifoia, 


i;j 

12 

14 

5 

b 
7 

10 

•20 

12 

10 

14 

14 

14 

15 

10 

13 

15 
7 

15 
8  to  30 
25 
4S 
44 
15 
13 
15 
15 

oj 
64 
64 
65 
60 
20 


.1. 

500,000 
425,000 
132,000 
70,000 
71,000 
21,000 
15,500 
2S,000 
40,000 
39.000 
20,500 
64,000 
26.000 
24,700 
30,000 
58,000 
33,000 
95,000 
27.000 
15,000 
80,000 
42,000 
74.000 
173,000  I 
243,000  ■ 
217,000  j 
10,000  I 
118,000 
16,000  ! 
16,000 
32.000  ; 
12,600 
10,280 


0  to  i 

0  to  i 
Oto-i 
0  to  i 

( to  i 

Oto  i 

0  to  I 
Otoi 
Oto  i 
Oto  1 
Otoi 


a. 

«. 

<  to    i 

1 

i  toi 
1  toU 
1    toli 
lUol) 

ito    i 

■2i 

i 
4 

2 

i  toi 
i  toi 

3i 
2i 

1    toli 

i  toi 
i  toi 


!  to  i  :    3  to  1 


1  to  i 

Oto  ( 

1  to  5 
J  to  .} 

0  to  1 


Oto  J 
i  to  1 
Oto  i 
Oto  i 
Oto  I 
Oto  I 

f  toi 


I  to! 
1    toll 

1 ;  to  1} 

1     to    i 

i  to  1 


h  to    J 

1}  to  1} 

i  toi 

li  tolj 

U  toi* 

ito    J 

2    to  2} 


2i 


■ik 


2.i 
2J 


4 

2 
2 
2 

n 

4J 


.65 
.03 
.65 
.57 
.45 


.29 

82 

.65 
.0(1 


.30 
.35 

.73 

.50 
.38 
32 
.50 
.3] 
.67 
.72 


Colunm  5  shows  the  depth  of  soil,  in  i,u-he.  and  frac 
^^^  inch,  at  which  on,,  one-h.,r  of  the   .eed. 

Column  6  shows  the  least  depth  of  soil,  in  in-hes  or 


11 


ill 


272 


THE    WEIGHT    VARIES. 


i"  the  tL  „!'  ILt;-:^.'"  "'"'= """  '"'^■'  "■'-' »' 

<vo!,M'i,:ti';L,"',„  'fieri,,:!'  .r-p  '"-"•'»' 

as  in  Wisconsin   inv  ;.  f  ,  "^'^  '^""^«  ^^'^^es, 

it  is  fbrty.four     Tl,^,,  ,        "  '""'"-' •  '"  »"«!", 

part,  „f    ou    e  „p        ,:?  "  "'  "/""'"■'  "■'"  -'-l-'J  i" 
ciea^d.     The  seed       f      '"''Z^'"""'"  ""1'  "1**  it  is 

poun,ls  pc.r  K„sl,d       ,  ',    ,  ^     *=    ™"'.  '"'''"*•''  '"  "'"'}' 

^eT^:n^';,f ;oS;  :'j,tr;r '"  '^  r """  »^- 

umri  3  bv  sixteen     I ,:  „    " ,  f'^  "  ?  "«-■  liumliers  i,i  co|. 

like  tiie  „,„„i,er  of  ,„  !„  t  „'rb;;  ;'";;■"■•  ""'■''  ™'-^' 

that  tl,e  lighter  t,,e  Led        ^e     !  'v  ill  he ',V" ''"''r"' 
of  seeds  in  „  iinui.d     '.r,,„*'        ,'  ■- """"""'"^'' 

the.  ma.V  h.  ,.e,ied  on  .  the  ...r,,^.  ^fX::-:^ 
Tlie  results   stated    in    columns    4    ^    ..n^   o 

ai::iX:.:^d:;:^,r„:,t-rhrf': 

•lunng  the  process  of  Keiminni,,,,    ,1,        i  ^t"- ,"""»' 

posed  to  the  iisl..,«oeo\„rs''r.t  e'     .^''„:it:r 
seeds  germinated  without  anv  coverin.Ati,  , 

-dinnr,  field  culture  sotne  sli'  Id";:  ^g    ";:iab,  " 
l'«t  the  figures  ,„  c„l„„,„  c  ,,,„„  the  im^rta't  t; 


TOO    FEW    SPKCIES,  .., 

that  in  our  mo<?ea  of  sowin,^  .„„l 

I'e  a  grout  loss  „f  set.rt^nf  1        ■      '"'"S  ""='■»  ""'»t 

"10  most  |,r„(ifal,l„  ,vs„|,  ".',",  '"'"'"  '"  "'■'■'«  "t 

<"■''>-'» K.w„.iH,o„o    ;;';;'::"«''''■''"•'■- r-oo 

vac„„t  s,„,,...s  will  |,„  ,i„,„  ,    '  "  ?'■""■■'<■''<  ""b-.-wM 

^rf'  vo.,-  oo,  side;;:;;  r .';:;;;  :,"«^-'.-'^'.  -„ 

"iMiKh  tilov  ,„„v  ho  so  si,       ^  '  ""  '"■'■'■'  ^■"■n 

ting  into  ti,„  .,™,„  '  T  l>o  uv.,i,U.,|  |,,  ,,„t. 
But  a  knowlo.h  ,,;,;"■■'  '.T  ■"""'■«'■  "'  --•  ■Is. 
used  for  s.,„.i„;  ;.,        '".""""'"=»  "t  soed  onli„„,ilv 

plant,  nooos«„T  tol;    .      '     ■'■  '"  ,'°  "'"  """'''"■  " 

■■■■«•  of  grass,  «dn':,.r;;„;';„t--,  ;>;;;'■ '"  ""■^•'-  ■-■ 

J  have     n   inv  ,^m  . .       •        >  ^''^'  *'"'*^'''- 

he»t  fan„o,.:      v     r:;;.'  '^'"7  '■™"  -n.o  of  tl.o 

'"■"I";!  of  lodton   ulin '?'*''  '"■"'■"■™  '••»"»•„ 

'»...■ ."  »i.x  „o.;, :  f  'Xt  t'  ;?"""•'••  -"  '•'■""' 

"-'■»  ™,v  „„,  ,.,.opo,.tio:°S  :;.--■  •^'"""  "f 

peck  of  Timofliv  i„„|  „  i„,„  '      '    '■' '■'  ""?  "™  "»  one 

';'ot;onc..dpr;K.tio^Lt'XeT;;;^;!,^■'''^■^■'■^'■"' 

stated,  some  even  iisino-  „  ^       •  i      ^     ^      '"'   *l"="'tifies 

^■ow,if.oo..::ir;';=:.— t;t':T';v'r''''''-^-- 

ounce  of    redton-^oprl   fi  ""*'  ^'"^^  "i  nn 

iv.ut()p..soeci   there  are  4->'nnn 

pound,!  ,,,x,  ,„.e  ovorliOOnnnn         ,         *'''"""'■   "•  " 

'-'ve  p   ,s,  H,o,.o  arfovTso^^'o^nn'"  "  I""''"''  "■■ 

suppose  ,1,0  (;„.„,,.,.  f.,i,„:  ,  •  '■"•'""•'"Is.  Xow 
»eed  ,„  „,i.  „,-,        '  „'  """>•  "";  P«k  of  Tin.o.l,,.: 

there  are  -4.,.,,0  ...J;;'"  "r'^''  "^  Timotl,,- grass-see. 
1,000,000  g,.ins.  "1^0  eve  n  "T"^  """■'=  '''  ""=' 
are   over  13,000.()00  >J,°U     ,f7"t'  '"  "  i^""''^'   """-o 

■  •""',  'f  "'0  'Ike   h„t  four 


;7-t 


NUMBER    OF    PLANTS, 


ni 


\i  r 


pounds  of  clover,  which  is  below  the  average  quantity 
used,  we  shall  find  by  the  same  process  that  we  have 
over  1,000,000  seeds.  If  now  we  add  these  sums 
together,  we  shall  find  that  we  have  put  upon  the  acre 
no  less  than  95,000,000  seeds  !  This  gives  about  fifteen 
seeds  to  the  square  inch,  or  about  2,000  seeds  to  the 
square  foot! 

Agai'^,  one  of  the  most  intelligent  farmers  in  the 
country,  a  practical  man,  uses  five  pecks  of  redtop  and 
twelve  quarts  of  Timothy  to  the  acre  for  mowing  lands, 
and  an  addition  of  five  pounds  of  white  clover  for  pas' 
tures,  making  no  less  than  124,000,000  seeds  per  acre. 
J  here  must  be,  evidently,  an  enormous  waste  of  seed, 

Table  X.  —  Average  Number  of  Plants  and  Species 
TO  THE  Square  Foot  of  Sward. 


CHARACTER    OF    THE  TURF. 


J.  4» 


s 

3 
a 
15 


1.  A  S(^uare  fiot  taken  fi'om  the  richest  nat-i 

ural  pasture,  capable  of   fattening  one' 
large  ox  or  three  sheep  to  the  acr^,  was 
found  to  contain j  qqq 

2.  Rich  oM    pasture,    capable  of  fattening 

one  large  ox  ami  three  slieep  per  acre,  .      1,090 

3.  Another  oM  pasture  containeJ ,     '910 

4.  An  olil  pasture  of  a  damp,  moist,  and 

mos.sy  surf  ice, ^g^ 

6.  A  good  pasture,  two  years  old,  laid  down 

to  rye  grass  and  white  clover ;      470 

fi.  A  sod  of  narrow-leaved  meadow  grass  (Poa 

angustifolia),  six  years  old. 102  } 

7.  A  sod  of  meadow   foxtail  by  itself,  six 

years  old gQ  i 

8.  Rye  grass  by  itseK;  same  age, 75  I 

9.  Meadow,  irrigated  and  carefully  managed,     1 ,708 


940 


60  !  20 


1,032 

58 

- 

880 

30 

12 

510 

124 

8 

452 

18 

2 

- 

- 

1 

- 

^ 

1 

- 

— 

1 

1,702  I     96      - 


J 


/»■■■-;"«."''■■«'. 


3  quantity 
t  we  have 
lese  sums 
1  the  acre 
3ut  fifteen 
3ds  to  the 

rs  in  the 
:dtop  and 
ing  lands, 
V  i'oc  pas- 
per  acre, 
of  seed, 

Species 


I 


60     20 


58 

- 

30 

12 

124 

8 

18 

2 

- 

1 

.^ 

1 

— 

1 

OLD    PASTURE    SWARD. 


275 


96 


or  an  extensive  destruction  of  the  plants  :  for  if  we  t-.ke 
nature  for  our  guide,  we  shall  not  t^-nd  anythh.o  1  k'  ,t 
amoantofph.„rsonaninchoraf;K,tofo.^fL     :^ 
f-     us  see,  from  a  very  careful  trial,  how  manv       l' 
•'":    I'ow   nany  species  are  to  be  fbund  in  a  sc,u  '-iZr 

Now,  It  IS  a  well-known  (act  that  tlie  sward  of  a  rirl, 

wt h  p  a„t.  and  no  vacant  spaces  occ„ r.  Yet  w" .11' 
from  tl,c  above  table,  i„  a  closed-crowded  tiri  „V 
™eh  a  pasture,  only  „„e  thousand  distinctlv  „  d 
plants  were  found  on  a  square  foot,  and  t  ,' e  '  .1 
made  r^p  of  twenty  different  species.   '  They  arse.;  in' 

The  soil  should  be  supplied  with  a  oroper  number  of 

curred ,    but,  however  heavily  seeded  a  piece  may  be 
^    h   one  or  two  fevorito  grasses,  small  vacant  s/ace! 

■^  th'cm'::',.:  :ti,  rtirii;  7  -"  ^^'^"'  ""p-'-^' 

,.        ;  '  >vuL-ij   idKen  in   the  accr'^fatfi  will   ^,. 

tnrtoubtedly  some  allowance  should  be  made  forth,, 
seeds  and  young  pi.,„ts  destroyed  by  insects  bird  ■  d 
™.K,us  acculental  causes;  but  even  after  all  del,,;!™^ 

t,^r'  7  ""l  "'^'  """■'•■  ''  •'"  'lefieiency  in  t^ 
quant,  ,es  of  seed  used,  and  the  i.nperfectly  cover  1 
ground  cannot  be  explained  in  this  way  ^ 

of  ft:  t^rcf''™  '  '■' "'"V"P-"""  -  an  illustration 
oi     le  truth  of  my  general  proposition.    It  shows  that 

rethrtvK""  '1r  '^"'  "'^"'•-  -ere  Zd  ' 
gether,  whether  ,n  old,  natural  pastures  or  in  artin,.ial 
".eadows,  the  number  of  plants'  on  a  given  space  .al 


ll'^^J. 


\    f: 


m 


276 


DEMAND    SOON    SUPPLIED. 


I    .luiitt  01  ovcr-scecliiiL',  iis  to  Iowa-  '■  \n 
excess  of  graas-seo,!  i»  „„„.„    the    'IT  ".  "" 

vegetate  ;  hut  ,he  „|,„„,  „  .iuf^,,^"'";. '"  S'^""™!-  "H 
""til,  from  the  w.nt'       „       •  ,  "'  ''  "">'  V'-Kn-^". 

H.e  e,,nli„e.|     „""   ,  '    "™™'''r»*  t"  '!■«  '"".»,  a,„i 

Pn.,,e,.  ,„„nbe,.  ,    ■  ,C    ':  ,     ^^ri'.'f "  '■""■"  '"  '"» 
tliere  are  a  ^.reater  or    ,.'  "  ""^  '"-'«"-<l'"g  a» 

'-oa.c,iv„a„,, ;:,:;-  't't'f'""" "'"  ■:'"•""■'•" 

'■-!■ l..od„ctive  ,,a        •  ,„        ;-•;»'"'"""""  "f.l.e 

"peciea  were  (i,,,ml    .|„  '     '""  ""'Ive  to  Hventv 

were  six  or  sev      l'      ^    I  n"""'  "'«-""^''  •■'"''  "'-'<' 

'■»t  ..re,/oi,;:::"  C:  ^o    ?7,,r':t'"''  ';  "'<'  '■'^''' 
even  less   tlrin   fl,„f         •  '^'"''  """^  Renerallv 

species  ''  ""■'"»  '"  "'«  '"'"■"■•'l  number  of 

for  sale  i„  every   fe^etT"''"  "■""'''  '"^  '"'"' 
reaso„able  price      Wll  i  """•"■'■  "'"^  »'  » 

'--1  expense  of  sow    "  I '"  ™"-'"''-™'  "■"'  <><o  addi- 

«'mu.  greater  n„n,ber  of  spe!;:;,  r"''""''  P'"'"'-'' 

A,.tcr,    -  every  farmer  must  admit  tlmf  ,>  iw     i- 
ov,d>„t,  after  a  moment's  reflection,  that 


observed 
ill  logaid 
^Vlien  an 
^neral,  all 

I'l-OgTOSS, 

Dots,  aiirl 
?e,  a  cer- 
ni  to  the 
>rdii)g  as 
f^pecies 

seed,  it 
iiiitiv  is 
n  of  the 

twenty 
d  there 
Ve  HOW 
le  inch, 
^nerally 
iber  of 

^'pense, 
"  many 
would 
e  kept 
d  at  a 
i  addi- 
a.^ture 
ively, 
ropor- 
s   the 
Hfl  us 
)r  his 
least. 
,  that 


VARIOUS    MIXTUUKS. 


277 


lh7^!^-:':'  '""'""^'  ^'^^'^  ^^^  -^--^^  the  species  and 
tl ic  jel.itive  quantities  of  each,  will  be  des^rtble  for 
^i.ileivnt  soils ;  that  diiJerent  mix/ures  w.^d  ^  .^e  ^i, 

h.rae..natepppi.,,Hayin,dow.Uan<lioroni;r;^ 
01  tuo,  an.l  for  permanent  pasture,     h,  our  n.ncti*.. 

-mostconnnontoseeddownfbrsoine'a:',     nc 

^.i-  lo,  la.  for  a  lew  years,  an.l  then  pasturin-^  the 
^,  nj  u  n.h  case  our  seeding  down  uss^nes"  ^,  ^ 
Hctu  o    laying  down  for  permanent  pasturage. 

i-iua  ly  good,    but    very  diUerent    mixtures    midit 
I'e    made    also,   for    the    same   soils,  by  dilfe  ent    in  1 

'n^    .t   veiy   early   crop,   some    wishing    to   select   sne 
<^'e-s  which   resist   the   access   of  profitless   wc  d       ^' 
others  to   cultivate   those  varietis  .        %:^;;;  :;;; 
-•the   least.     Each   of   these    nnxturc.:::^,' 
-l^li^ed  to  the  specific  object  of  the  farmer  .v^.o  ma^ 
,  and,  If  eomposcHl  of  a  sufHcient  number  of  sj^^h^ 
•"^^   be  good,  and  truly  economical.  ^  ' 

Ihe   practice   with  many  firmers   has   abvadv  be.,. 
Huded  to  as  consisting  usually  of  one  bushet^^^ 
pounds  of  ..edtop,  a  half  a  bushel  or  twent^-two  pound! 

litrLmthifrir^'"^"'^^-^^----^^^ 
...frcrmi;r^:r^"?''^^^''^^''!^'^'''p"- 

selected   •,.    1.1  ""'''   'P^^"^'^    ^"^''ould    bo 

the 


season;  njul  som 


possible,  a  luxuriant  growth  through 


valuable  mainly  for  their  earl 


grasses  may  be  used  whicl 


to  tin 


•I'  nutritii 


y  growth,  with  1 


f  value  tjian  in  mixtures  for  fi 


or  s.u;l.  a  mixture,  we  might  .elec 


1  are 


ess  rogard 
eld  culture. 


an  example 


t  the  followi 


us:  as 


ill 


m 


24 


Ill 


i'J  !  1  • 


278 


MIXTUHE    FOU     PK  |{M  A  N  KN  T    PASTURES. 

For  Permanent  Fastures. 


Meaddw  Foxta 
Orcliaid  Gruss, 
Sweet-scented  Vernal, 
Meadow  Fescue, 
Red  top, 

Kentucky  I51ue  Grass,     ' 
Italiiin  l{yp  Grass,  ■ 

Perennial  Rye  Grass, 
Timothy,  i 

Koujih-stalked  Meadow, ' 
Perennial  Clover,  ' 

Wliite  Clover,  •' 


flowering  in  May  and  June,  2  pounds, 

in    "       "       "  (•  .s 

in  April  and  May,  1  " 

in  May  and  June,  2  '« 

in  June  and  July,  2  " 

in  May  and  June,  4  " 

in  June,  4  <i 

in     "  e  .. 

in    "      and  July,  3  '« 

in    "       "      "  2  " 

in    "  3  .. 

from  May  to  Sept.,  5  " 


40  pounds. 


This  mixture  would  give  the  enormous  number  of 
over  54,000,000  seeds  !     In  an  acre  there  are  0  27^  040 
mches,  so  that  the  mixture  would  give  about  eig'ht  s'Jod 
to    he  square  inch.     We  see,  from  the  preceding  table 

plants     o    the    .quare  foot,  or,   on  an  average,  about 
seven  plants  to  the  s.iuarc  inch.  fe  ,  -^  '  "U 

Tins  is,  therefore,  a  very  large  and  liberal  seodin.- 
and  leaves  a  large  margin  lor  worthless  se,>ds,  lor  im-' 
perlect  sow.ng.  and  ibr  destruction  of  plants  b^  insects 
and  frost.  ^  "i-t-ns 

The  weight  of  the  seeds  of  each  of  the  species  of  the 
Hbovp  nu.xttn-e,  together  with  the  period  of  blossoming 
of  each,  will  furn.sh  a  sufficient  reason  for  the  nuantitv 
recommended,  and  the  reader  is  referred  to  Table  XIV 
tor  iurther  t  xplanation. 

A  permanent  pasture  mixture,  recommended  bv  the 
Messrs.  Lawson  &  Sons,  very  experienced  seedsn.^n  of 
I'^diMburgh,  Scotland,  may  be  worthy  of  studv  in  con- 
nection with  the  descriptions  of  the  various  species  as 
given  in  the  first  chapter.     It  is  as  follows : 


I 


SECOND    PASTUllK    AIIXTUllE.  27U 

Second  Mixture  for  Permanent  Pasture. 

Pounds.  Pounds. 

Meadow  Foxtail 2  Perennial  Rye  Grass 8 

Orchard  Grass, 4  Timothy, ;{ 

Hard  Fescue 2  Wood  Meadow  Gra.ss, 2 

Tall  Fescue 2  lluu^ri,-v,tiilked  .Meadow  Grass,   .    .  2 

Aieadow  Fescue 2  Yellow  Out  Gras-s 1 

'^«^lt"P' -'  Perennial  Clover 2 

•'""'«  Grass, 2  White  Clover, 5 

Italian  Rye  Grass, (i  '  — 

45 

Hore  wo  have  a  con.siderable  number  of  species,  and, 
accordino^  to  the  table  ou  a  preceding  jjjige,  over  forty- 
five  miUion  five  liuudred  tliousand  seeds.    Thus,  tliough 
we  use  less  than  half  as  many  seeds  as  our  fiirnieis  gen- 
erally do,  we  still  allow  juore  than  seven  seeds  to  the 
square  inch,  or  over  one  thousand  seeds  to  the  square 
foot,  a  number  larger  than  tiie  number  of  plants  found 
in  the  rich  and  closely-wcven  sward  of  an  old  pasture, 
as  seen  in  Table  XI.     These,  it  will  be  seen,  even  if  wJ 
make  a  large  allowance  for  bad  seeds,  will   produce  as 
many  plants  as  will  grow  well,  while  we  still  have  by 
I'll  the  largest  number  of  stalks  of  redtop  from  no  le.s8 
than  three  million  seeds,  though  the  weight  of  the  red- 
t..|)-sced  is  but  two  pounds.     This  mixture  is  designed 
lur  one  acre  sown  without  grain  in  the  fall  in  northern 
latitudes,  or  in  the  spring  in  soils  where  spring  sowing 
is  found  to  do  best.     If  any  modification  were  proposed 
in  the  above  mixture,  it  would  be  to  reduce  the  qmmf  itv 
of  the  rye  grasses,  or  to  leave  out  the  Italian  rve  grass 
entirely. 

A  nn'.xtnre  like  the  above  would  answer  very  well, 
and  is  less  ex})ensive  than  the  following,  though  it  is 
probable  that  the  greater  original  outlay  for  the  seeds 
recommcjuled  in  the  foilowimr  tiible  will  be  more  tha" 
returned  in  the  additional  yield. 


I'  ' 

1^ 


I   lii 


.  8 


280  ECONOMY    OF    PASTUUKS. 

ninl  .mature /or  Permaneni  Pmure. 

Meadow  Foxuil,  .    '. '"T'"'.\rnu  t^ 

H.nl  Fcvscue.  '  |  »"'"'  Mom.Iow  (Jr.ass, ., 

TulllWue,  .    .        ;if""«''-^"'l'^^''IMm,l„wGniss,    .      " 

Meadow  Fe«cue,    .'    .';;■'*    ' .  1^.'''"^ *^^' ••'•'^- 

Ju..oGra«...    !    ! ^  >m,nial  Tlover ^ 

Italian  %e  Gni...    ."    .'    .'   .'    .'    '    "  ."J  P^ '"'«' ^'l^ver ^ 

I'ercnnial  Itye  Grass,   .    .  '    *  j  I  -■ 

wi.l,„ut  the  perennial  clove'  "  ''"'"-'  ■"""'^""" 

«>.■  !-<»  .1 i,  ;t:i.  ;:::;'.•'',  ::,7:;  -""^r-"  •- 

ti«u,  ,,e™,„,..,„  ,«t,„,  iff r; ;.,  I ;  ;'"^-,"  '"^■-  -; 

since  tie  n^.  ■ „c,j.„,,       ,     ,     ,  .  '  '"-' "scd, 

large  nuinl.or  ut\seods  is  required   mil  fl      '  '"  ^      »' 
number  „r  sj.ecies.  ^  '  ^''^'^  "^  ''  ^'^''g^' 

It  has  alreadv  been  said  th-it  ..  i.... 

number  ol"  seeds  of  one   or  twc^spe Is        /       T' 
1>H  adde.l  tbaf  tbe  douse  Lm.wf  .  ^^  ^ay  also 

exi..nst    ,.e    .round    i:;^!^ '  ^L^^^^^^^^  -^^ 
exteut.u,,ou  (blferent  coustitueuts      Tl.i        '  '""'^ 

tant  praetica]  ju.iut.  whiel,  wi^I        I;   ^'f  "  '"  '"^P"''" 

i^-uref.ediu!.is,uu,i;-;:;.:^,'^':^;^^f^-^^^ 

c  xliau.ted  and  worn-out  pastures  in  the  older 


Pounds 
.    .  ;{ 


4o 


IMPIIOVEAIKNT    OP     PASTURES.  281 

'     RmsseMo«e,l.o.-  with  .such  other  fora,J,      ^s 
-eheon    ou.,d,oa,l.ltothoridu.ossof,Ln!rH.d 
'•ecommoiids  thu  fulluNving :  ^''''^ 

FouHh  MUturefor  Permanent  Pasture. 

M,        ,,  Pounds, 

••'iiluw  Foxtail,     .    .  -M     n  •   .  ..  Pounds. 

0.cl.,ua  a..a««,  .    . -^    I    -enn.alRyeG.a«« v> 

Timothv  4    lUxJCIaver r, 

n       ,  •'     , *^  White  Clover 

Ro.,.h..stalko,l  Meadow  G..a«.,    .    3  j  Black  Medic   ."  .' ." 

30 

mh''tv,',"',i'  *'■""  ,•"'"'?  "''"'™  >'<^™"  '■""■''■'"i  ""J 

liilmOu  III,,,,  (!,„.,„  ,.i.co.i,moi„lod  in  tlie  fore..,,!,,..  ,„i,- 
u.e»,  but  »t,ll  a  very  liberal  .ceding,  pr„vi. l^l    1 1         , 
.    .o„n<    an.l  ,,„„d.     I  .,,„„l.l  preler'.o  add  ,.„„side™ 

longi,..l„k,d    meadow,  and    twe    „r  ,l,n.e    m„„m,1.  „  ■ 
June  ur  kentuckv  blue  gras».    A  s.iil  larger    ,n„l,  r 
8pee,e»  would  be  desirable;  and  tl,o  .all  oat  grass,    a    I 
fescue,  and  a  su.all  quantity  of  »we.e,-seenK.d   vein 
"oii/fl  ()(.  an  iniprnvemmt. 

A  mixture  i..  sometimes  wanted  for  pastures  that  are 
much  sl,aded  w.th  trees:  and  in  such  cases  those  spe 
e  OS  should   .0  selected  which  do  well  in  such  situations 

bh>j.omatddlerentse..ous,soasto,iveasuoce:^^ 
of  .fo,a^.o  and  possess,  at  the  same  time,  the  requisite 
mount  of  nutntive  elements.      I  would   su-^ir-st    ho 
folio wjn- as  the  ^"^ 

24* 


fMi 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


m  12.8 


I.I 


m 


lilU 
IIM 

III  4  0 


11^ 

II  2.2 
1 2.0 

1.8 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

-* 6"     — 

► 

ll    _x 


l-.V 


Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


282 


OltCHABDS. -SHADED    PASTURES. 


Sixth  3Iixtare,  for  Permanent  Past 


with  trees. 


teres   much  shaded 


I'cmiid.s.  I 


.June  Grass, 

Orchard  Gnxss, (J 

.Sweet-scented  Vernal, 3 

Hard  Fescue, o 

Tall  Fescue, 


Pounds. 

'5 


■iw;;:.::;;;;;:--'^>'''''=  "»■«'•. 


.Meadow  Foxtail 

Wodd  Mcaddu-  Grass 4 

llough-stalk.'d  Meadow !  g 

Red  Clovei-, o 


40 


If  the  object  be  to  make  a  permauont  lan-n,  as  is  fre- 
quen  y  desn-able  around  or  in  sight  of  the  iitrn.-hou  e 
.on.e  huig-  hke  iho  following  mixture  will  o-c 
tound  to  give  satisfactory  resultb : 


generally  be 


Permanent  Lawn  Grasses  in  Mixture. 

,,      ,                                                    Pounds.  „ 

Meadow  Foxtail, 2   Timothy  *"'• 

Sweet-scented  Vernal  Grass,  .    .    .  1    Ju„o  G-ass,  '. f 

Kedtop,  ...  „   „       ,        , 4 

Hard  Fescue. .'   "^''f'^f  Meadow  Gn^s.   .    .2 

Sheep-sFescie.    .    .' t   ]^""  ^n'""" ' 

^,     ;       ,,         ' 1    Perennial  Clover, ....  9 

Meadow  tescue 4    Red  Clover.   .    .  l 

Ked  Fescue,   ...  .1    \vi,;^„  /,,  ^ 

,^  ,.  '       .i    >v  lute  Clover -. 

Italian  live  Grass jjj  ^ 

Pereunial  Rye  Grass [   ['q\  ,    ^ 

This  mixture   will  resist  the   efieets   of  our  severe 
h-ough  s   better  than  those  commonly  used    L  ZT 

K'-'iss,  could  best  be  spared  '"^^^e 

frequently  „„„„  „„  of  most  u.e  a,  .b.nfsl,,,;;;  ("In.i'J 


Pounds. 
.  2 
.4 
.  G 
.  3 


40 


Poundu. 

■    .    .  3 

•  .   .4 

,  .   .2 

.   .   .  1 

.   .2 

.   .  2 

.   .6 

m 


MIXTURES     FOR     LAWNS. 


283 


c-alve.  ami  sheep,  and  are  less  adapte.l   to   supply  the 
Hunts  (,f  larger  animals.  ^  ^  -^ 

which -n-.w  1^  ''"'^    I'JeHsure-grounds, 

winch  ,110  to  ho  often  mown,  or  kent  ^lu.rf    ; 

mended  hy  Parnell,  as  follows:  ^  '  "  ^'''"^- 


Second  JJlxture,  for  Per 


/m///e/^/  Laivns  to  be  frequently 


Mo 


Wtl. 


liough-stalkeil  Meadow,    . 
8 1  Redtop, 


Pounds. 


,,  I'lmnds. 

tresteil  Dog's-tuil jj 

Y'ellow  Oat  (iras!<, 

Hard  Fescue,  ...  JJ  ]  1,7,".'"''' 4 

,,,,,,,                 "J    "hitetop,     ....                           A 

>V  ood  Meadow A  * 

•June  (Jra.ss .^                                                              7q 


Uu      lurmshed  With  snitahle  grasses  become  much 

no.    and  more  velvety,  from   frequent  mowino-    than 

l.oy  otherw,..e  would  be.     The  Law.son's  mix   n'e    for 

lawn«   Irequently  mown,  con..ists  n.ainly  of  t   e  Xme 

speczcs,  but  in  diiferent  proportions.      It's  as    ol  ows 


Thud  Mixture, for  Fine  Lawns frequenth,  Mo 


Pounds. 


Crested  Dog'.s-tail,      , jq 

Hard  Fescue ^ 

SleniJer  Fescue, 9 

I'erwinial  Hye  Grass jq 

W(j()d  Meadow  <irass 2 


thj 

Hough-stalked  Meadow, 
Velio w  Oat  tirass,  .    . 

June  Grass, 

White  Clover,     .... 


^wn. 

Pounda. 
.  .  1 
.    .     1 

.  .  8 
.    .    8 

m 


A  m.xt^ure  for  permanent  lawn  pastures,  or  pastures 

y.ng  m    he  v,cmity  of  dwellings  L  p„bli;Udy.u":: 

^iK're    the    owner   has   some    reganl    to   fineness  and 

eauty  of  horbage,  should,  I  thinic,  be  con.posed  of  . 

still  larger  number  of  species. 

The  following  is  suggested  as  most  likolv  to  .po,,re 
the  end  desired:  '    


fH 


11 


•  fl^!' 


Pounds. 


.4 


a**  RECAJ^D     TO     HABIT    OF    GROWTH. 

Permanent  Lawn  Pastures. 

Meadow  Foxtail 3    , 

owei't-sceiiteii  Wriiiil,  ...  o    i„„„  X, 

Orchanl  (Ma...,      ...  '  '   ;*""««•■"«« 

Hard  Fescue,     .  t    ^•'"S'-«"^l'<ed  Meadow ;■ 

SlK.ep'«  Fescue,     .'   .'   .'    ." ^  ,    '^ '- Oat  Gra.. j 

„,      ,        .,         -i  ;  Red  Clover 

Meadow  Fe.wue.    .  .,  !  „ .2 

It-ilian  R,e  Grass.    .    !   !  -    ereunial  Red  Clover. , 

Perennial  R,e  Gr^s.    .    .    .'   :    .'    "  ^  p^'"'«  ^'-er. ^ 

Timothy „  — 

^'  43 

In  all  such  niixturo^  flm  «n,.i. 
autumn  o,,,„,,l,  a, "  o  i        m    ''    "'"'"^  "'"'  "'"  '"'« 

+1        !•            ,     "^'""f^*-?   ^i«   to   be    reaurdcf         f 'i-.,  .  „ 
lK.,-eto,c,  ,v  ,d,  „,o  cl,a,act.n^o,l  In-        i,.  JTT; 
late  Kioivtli,  l.econio  of  im.,t  , ,  •    ""'' 

outV:„':s;;.':"':::;,::;'i:;'^^ir  ™"  '■»  n'—"  "''i.- 

of  expoHa,o  ,,,!.;  ,'      ;,"  '  .  ^S*-'-' ,"'"  ""l-'-auce 
and  » II,.,.  ,,ua,r,i  b   of  0     I      "    ;  ",""'''"''  "'  -^l"-'""-' 


Tall  Oat  Grass,   . 
Tall  Fescue. 
Meadow  Fe.scue. 
Meadow  Foxtail, 
Orchard  Grass, 


Hard  Fe...c.,e       '     Tufted  Hair  Grass. 

Sheep's  Fe..c;;,  ;   .'   .' V' W.''.*^'r''*      '    '    ' 

Qu^'kin. Grass: ..:[::['-'    ' '''°''''  •  • 

t^'onib  Grass 


P'JUlKis. 


Pminds.  I 

■    •  H    Sfl'eet.sccrted  Vcrnai  1 

•  .  1 J  i  Timothy !.'"'' 

.    .  1  [  '  June  Grass. 

•  .  1      Redfop 


d 


20i 


wo,  and  tl,.„  to  l.K.ak  up  agau,,  regard  „l,o„ld  be  l,ad 


Pounds. 
'  •  ■  •  .  tj 
.    •    ■    .    .  4 

1 

•  '    •    .    .  '2 

•  ....  2 
4 

43 

the  late 
auce  of 
(j'rasseiri, 
lily  and 
taiice  in 
fies  ai'o 
aluele.ss 

h1  with- 
urtance 
species, 
!  as  the 

I'liiiiids. 

•  .    .  1 

■    ■    ■     i 


20i 

3a r  or 
e  liad 


OUEEN    MANUIUxNG     I'LA.VTS  «),s_- 

to  the  hal.it  of  growth  and  tlie  kind  of  root  the  gra.s 
i"i-s.  home  species  require  three  or  four,  and  in  some 
cases  SIX  years,  to  become  firmly  rooted  and  fixed  in 
the  soil;  and  they  would,  of  co.irse,  be  unsuited  to 
alternate  husbandry  An.ono.  them  nuty  be  named  tlie 
meadow  oxtad  and  the  June  ...ass,  and  others  of  a 
snndar  character  will  suggest  tliemselves  in  studyinir 

Again,  some  grasses  have  but  a  comparatively  slijrht 
J'"':'   "I'on   the  soil,  possessing  few  and  bulbous  roots 
;vhiHi,  when  the  soil   is  turned  up,  add  but  little  to  the 
; -.ess  of   the  mould;  while  otK.rs  strike  deep  roots 
'"anclungn.   every  direction,   and   fill    the   soil   with  a 
vast  an.ount  of  vegetable   matter,  and  add  to  its  rich- 

"uch'tliev  l'"^  K'^'"  "'^'"'^   ""^  '""'•^'-■^'  '-"er 
^\  iiitii  they  leave  ni  it. 

m    «!,,„,,,    i,mv  „  eniicho,  tl,„  soil,  l,j.  „„M„„i, 
t   „,    ,k,„,.  ,.  long  and  .loop  root,  into  the  .nhj, 
H  .-I  !lt...mg  ,t  l,-o,„  the  scorching  ravs  of  the  sun   hv 

om  t he  ,t„,o,pl,ere,  and  corporifving  if,  „t  i,  „,,,e   ,o 

1 :,:;:,"  ■;  ,i  ,"";"i  '"'"^ " ''  ■'-  p'-s'- '  i„ 

c  on   i    .   r;  "^'"''  '^'t'"  "P  '"eive  place  to  other 

b  r;  t    t ,"  I    ''  ■'  ^T"' "  ''"■'^<'  -"""■»  "f  -'i°- 

P  0<h  ci,  "  ,  '^'  '"  *''"  '°"-     1"'"^   importance   of 

.u,-C  :^;r     Th    '  ""f .'°  "^^  '•'■«<^'"W<^  n,o„l,,  in  ,!,« 


-r  r 


286 


f   t  ■ 


tl 


DIKFKREXCK     OF    CLFMATE. 

Tlie  following  is  the  Lawson', 


le  rotation  : 


8  mixture  for  grasses  in 


Mxtu^^/or  Moxoing  in  the  Itotathn. 


Hedtop,  .  .~"7~r~rT!  |-^ 

Italian  Rye  Grass,      ...               ^ 

t'orenriial  llye  Grass,     ...,.' '  ° 

Orchard  Grass I  ^ 

Timothy _" ^ 

Heel  Clover,     ....*.'. ^1 

Perennial  Clover, '  ^ 

White  Clover 


As  this  mixture  was  desie-nerl  fnr  no    •     c      , 
may  be  proper  to  remark  th^tV      T  /"  ^'^*'^"^'  ^'^ 
Edinburgh  is  55°  57^  w  i    '  j,' 7^  ''  '•""^'^  "^" 

21',  yet  the  mean  annua  te^e-  re  oTtf"  %  '"'  ''° 
47°  1  Fnhr  fl,..f  f  *i  ,  '"P^'^^ure  of  the  former  s 
^»  .1  rdiu.     riiat   of   the   latfpr  18°  o      i,       • 

slight  difference      \>nt  '  '^^^^^"g  a  very 

not  been  proved  sufficiently  carnM^  Tf     -^^^  "" 

o..r  drought,  to  give  it  ,„  ™"  ,        "' "'"'•'"""'«ns 

fixture,  <hough,af  airead  »:g;  ,  d^T"™  ',"  '"^ 
more  careful  trial  ,l,an  it  1„  vffreceivld  ■  T"'^  "' 
try.  I  would  suggest  the  foil  wi„?:;:„',.lf '  '°""- 
for  our  purposes :  ^  improvement 


•.it 
«-  3 


4)    CC 

>>  CO 


8 

8 

6 

6 

3 

8 

6 

6 

9 

9 

4 

2 

2 

4    ' 

i- 

4 

37 


MIXTURES    FOR    OUCirARDS. 

Mi:,turefor  Moxvhuj  in  the  Itotation. 


28' 


Redtop, 

Italian  Rve  Grass, 

Perennial  %e  Grass, 

Orchard  Grass 

Tiniothj", 

Rough-stalked  Meadow, 
Meadow  Fescue, 
Meadow  Foxtail,     . 
lied  Clover,     .    .    .    \    , 
Perennial  Clover,  .    ,    , 
White  Clover,     .    ,    . 


1 

a             2 

3             4 

3     1        3 

6             8 

n          9 

—            2 

2 

3 

2 

8     '       4 

— 

2 

3 
6 

p 

8 

4 

2 

4 

3 

2 

4 

4 


lands  are  studded  with  fruit-trJ,    .    i    fw  mowing 


3/2a:^M 


'-e  /or  ^ay  m  Orc/m7-rfs  and  Shaded  Places. 


r»..«i.-     .  «  Pounds.  I 

Orchard  Grass,     ...  a    \v.  i  ir     .  Poinds. 

Hard  Fescue, 6    W  ood  Meadow  Grass 4 

Tall  Fescue,.       ^ ;  Rough-stalked  Meadow  Grass. 

Italian  Rye  Grass"   "       ^jJuneGrasa 

Perennial  Rvrr 3  |  Perennial  Red  Clover,    .    . 

erennial  Kye  Grass,  ...              q    wkWo  m                       >    •    •    . 
Timothy,    ........  •  V^h'te  Clover. 

Redtop ■   .   .'  .8 


.  2 
.  4 

,  3 
4 


42 


The  above  mixture  will    mvo  „    „^,,x 

'ia.iea  pjacGfa.     a  large  allowance 


288 


MIXTURE    FOR    RECLAIMED 


SWAMPS. 


i^  nm.Ie  for  bad  seed ;  but  if  the  purehuser  is  eor.fi.lent 
tf.e  .seed  ,s  good,  from  u  careful  trial  ns  n 


;•  pi-oy.ous  page,  tn-o  pounds  niav  be 


I'ecomiiieiidt'd  on 


on  such  places.  "  T„e  fo,,owi,,7„;nI.\"Z,',:::^^' 
Mixture /or  3Jow!ng  o,i  LUjkl  Lands. 


/>     I       ,  „  Pounds.  I 

.IuneGra«.,.  4    Peronnml  %e  Grass. 

3    English  Bent,    .    ,    . 

3    Crested  Dog's-tail,   . 

Meadow  Soft  Grass.  •   .'   .'   ."    "    '    '  I  VZTm   r"^ ''"''''' 
Rediop,  3    BlackMed.c 

'^■■"-"  RyeG'ra.."   .'   [   '.   \  \   '   "  ^  h^'"''' ^'-er. 
Red  Fescue,  . 


Hard  Fescue, 
'fall  Oat  Grass, 


PounJs. 
.  .  .6 
.    .      9 


4  I  Sainfoin, 


.  1 

.  3 

.2 

.4 

2 


46 


lorn)  or   i,v  t,„  "  S''™"'^'  e™^'*"  (J!?''"^ 

"-.eacof    he  pe'elK;;:"'™"   ^^:;.?  '  ^">'«""»>' 


^"^""■o /or  RecUim^  p,„„j  j^^,^^^ 

p.     .  Poumla. 

•^'0''"' 9    D     ,  o  Po«n''«- 

Redfop,  ,    .  '  "^'-  ^'•nary  Grass 4 

Hard  Fescne.     .'   .' 2   Tj^othy, \^ 

Meadow  Foxtail  °  ^"^''-'^'^'Iked  Meadow  Grass.    .   .3 

Mead„wF.,.cae,    .    .'    .'   .'    .'    '    '    '  t^f^''^'^     ' 

Kowl  Meadow..    .    .         4  j  Jf /'"■^'•'    '    ' 

r.alianRvo  Grass.    .        ^   Wh.te  Clover 4 


2 
.4 


I'ereiinial  %e  Grass,   . 


.41 
.6 


47 


I'S. 

<  confident 
neiided  on 
1  fiom  the 
Italian  or 
itiier. 
Jier  for  a 
''or   light, 
i  of  such 
0  do  best 
le  as  a 


Pounds. 
.  .  6 
.  .  2 
.  .  1 
.  .  3 
.  .  2 
.   .4 


') 


46 


haps  he 
(Boute- 
sacum), 
iving  is 


Pounds. 
•  .  .4 


33, 


.6 

.3 

,2 

4 

4 


MIXTUKE    FOR    GRAVELLV    SOILS. 


289 

f  ''l'-.™i,.«.  a„a  tl  ,:  Toft    .rH:'","  '1'  "'"  '"'■'""' 
t"  ™ako  ,1,0  ,„„»t  valuable  W       ol.*  ^    /"""^  •■""' 

to  tl,o  case  if  ear     .^      „     "''"""="  "*  "">  ■'0^*.  as  will 
-..rthless  ,vhe„   „,e  ball:  '     "  I";  ,:r"""'""y»'>- 

I'C  early  grasses  ought  to  be  k,  rf  I      ., 
"■"'  ;l-  lato  ones  by  tb^^elve      tl      ; '^;,"'""^^''-^^' 

oiiglit  to  be  made  so  i«  fn  i    •       ',    '^*^  ^'^'  ^'^o  mixtures 

-^'^  of  most  of  the  plants  .'t'r°      "  ^"""^  ^^^  ^^— 
^"■tl-  and  great  ^;1^^^;^^^^^ 
tl-  work  over  a  longer  sea  "„      r',       'm^'  ^'  ^^^'^"^^^^« 
othenvi,so   i.eidont   to   tl^Zy    Lr^'T/'^ '"'^'^ 
can  begni  on  the  early  .masses  Z  T     ■  ,  J  '   ^'""^'^'S 
or  Qven  earlier,  while   vft    Z  i  f         "'' '"'^^  *^^  J^^"^' 
J^e  delayed  till  the  ^::Vt^''  Ct ',""  ^^'^^^^ 
tlnng  to  promote  this  n<reif-  J,  ^^^"trd^ute  sonie- 

thefollo^v•ing:-_  ^ ''^^  ^^"Provement,  sve  suggest 

■^«^^y  Grass  Mature.    (For  One  Aore  ■) 


Orcliard  grii,«s 

Tall  meiidow  oat  ^rass 

Perennial  rve  grass 

June  (or  Kentucky  blue)  graJs 
Meadovv  foacue  grass      .        . 
Red  clover 


6  lbs.  =  ^  bushel. 
G  lbs.  =  1  busliel,  nearly 
C  lbs.  =  J  bushel. 

4  lbs.  =  i  bushel. 

7  lbs.  =  i  bushel. 

5  lbs. 


rw 


I< .       I    • 


!      if 


290 


Alsiko  clover 
Perennial  clover 


TIME    OF    BLOSSOMING. 

•  •  .5    11)3. 

.     5  lbs. 


Tln.s  mixture  is  designed  for  iiiowing-Iots  and  f„r  hay. 
Ihe  grasses  in  tliis  mixture  are  all  early.  Must  of 
tlieni,  under  ordinary  circumstances,  will  blossom  by 
the  mi.Idle  of  June.  They  are  all  rich  and  nutritive, 
an.l  will  make  the  best  of  hay,  if  cut  in  season  and 
properly  cured. 

Lafe  Grass  Mixture.     (For  One  Are.) 

Timothy  grass          ...  1 1  ii,=        i        i 

,,,  ,  .                                   •         •         •         •  1*  lbs.  =  1  peck; 

iu'd-top  grass  .         .  /,  ,,            i  ,      ,    . 

rn,,,,  e      ^ <5  lbs.  =  4  bushel. 

rail  fescue  grass 5  i,,^_  _  ^  ,,,^^,^^j 

ough-stalke.l  meadow  grass  ...     5  lbs.  =  i  bushel" 
ho,IeIslan<l  bent  grass.         .        .        .    4  lbs.  =  ^  bushel." 
lerennial  clover 5  j,,j| 

Ked  clover       .         .  r-  il  ' 
5  lbs. 


Alsike  clover 


5  lbs. 


The  grasses  in  this  mixture  are  all  late.     Timothy  and 
red-top  rarely  ccjine  to  blossom  before  July.     They  will 
not  .suffer  if  the  scythe  does  not  go  into  them  till  after 
the  4th.     J  hese  seeds  can  be  i)roeured  of  any  first-class 
importing  seedsman,  and  they  should  be  sown  about 
the  middle  of  August,  if  the  ground  is  in  suitable  con- 
clition;  it   not,   as   soon    +^  jreafter   as  may   be      If  a 
farmer  has,  say,  ten  acres  .0  lay  down,  let  him  sow  one 
halt  ot  it  with  the  early  mixture  and  the  other  half  with 
the  late.     If  he  will  keep  an  eye  on  the  result  of  the 
experiment   for    two   or   three   yaars,  considering  the 
qualify   and   quantity   of   the   hay   and   the   value   of 
the  aftermath,  he  will  find  that,  though  the  mixtures 
may  cost  a  triHe  more  than  he  would  pav  for  the  ordi- 
nary mixtures  of  timothy  and  red-top,  his  outlay  for 
these  mixtures  will   be  worth  to  him  more  than  ten 
times  the  cost. 


--^sni 


lul  for  hay. 

Must   (jf 

•lossom  by 

nutritive, 

ieasuu  and 


pcckj 

i  bushel. 

r  l)ii.sliel. 

!  1)iisIk>1. 

bushel. 


notJiy  and 
They  will 
I  till  after 
first-class 
vu  about 
able  con- 
je.     If   a 
I  sow  one 
half  with 
lit  of  the 
ring-   the 
value   of 
mixtures 
the  ordi- 
itlay  for 
;han  ten 


drecl  i;u„,„„  ,,„.,,|  ,.       '•""-•»  -  ioi,  ol  ,i,„  ,„.o  |,„„. 

specie.  „(■  g„K.,  n,i.xo,|     U  o,r„     '""'"  "'""  '»- 

Aa  oxaiiiplcs  of  tli„  ir,.ii,.,-,l  ,       V 
".«  '"'lowing  mig,,t  ,:";^.;^X;"  '•"■"'""■  'or  ....,„.  ,.«„,, 

i ; .':« ,';ys;*r;  • -j,'>'  ■-.  -,.,„„ » „„.  ,.„,  ,„„ 

<  '=■/  iLutop,  1  bushel  M4  ihq  \  t:,     .. 

clover.  ^"  '^s.)   rmiothy,  10  to  Ij  H,s 

7-  ^ -marts  di  ,,,.)  re:itop';'  iV';V.';,'''f'^.'«'^-«'ovc.r. 

,    „.^^j;-«;;.^l  pint  white'dover  ^  '''''""'^'    "  '"^''^^^  '"eJ 

..2-  ^i  ^I'rl:  ShJI'^TS;:.!' ''?-„!^''^  "^^'^  T'"-t"^.  C  lbs.  clover. 
Ji-  J  Pe^;^  -it^  3    r  S.i  ;^'1  !^  S^->  ^'-%.  10  lbs.  clover. 

■     1-  l^'iuar  J  S;:'r'''"?^.^=^>'- clover. 

1 7.  5  pecks  u ,lton   A  . ''"'""-'  ^""""'y.  1 «  lb.,  clover. 

18.  1  bush  ,      uj;  *1    ';'f  J"""^"^'  ^  !-•  clover. 
19-  1  peck  re,lt     ':  pec    r      i;"'^'  '  '''•^-  ^'-O''- 

<"vo:.:,^.  ™:r;,,:ii  ™'««-* '-  ^"°"  *'■«  --oo.,i„g 
.•ect;:it.tn:;r:,:ov„T;f ''  °'  "■=  '''•^-»'  -«'.^ 


'"pp" 


■*  ,     / 


292 


GRASSES    NATURAL    TO    THE    SOIL. 


difi-erenec  in  their  weight ;  u  given  number  of  pound^ 
of  .some  species  contuining  nmny  more  seedn,  nnd  there- 
lore  producing  a  tlir  larger  number  of  plunt«  than  an 
ecpiul  weight  of  others. 

There  are  few  points  in  our  practice,  it  socms  to  me 
wliere  greater  imi.rovements  could  be  made  than  in  the 
selection  and  mixture  of  our  grass-seeds.  If  the  money 
which  IS  now  literally  thrown  away,  by  over-seeding 
with  one  or  two  species,  were  c.xpen<led  in  prociiriii"' 
other  species  and  improving  our  mixtures,  there  is  but 
httle  doubt  that  the  aggregate  profit  on  our  grass  crop 
would  be  much  greater  than  it  now  is. 

Some  maintain  that  one  or  two  species  are  suflicient 
because  certain  grasses  are  "  natural,"  as  they  say  to' 
their  laud,  and  come  in  of  th-mselves.  This  may',  in 
some  cases,  be  true  to  some  extent,  for  such  gias'ses 
will  come  in,  in  time  ;  but  wo  arc  liable  to  lose  sight  of 
the  fact  that  the  loss  of  a  full  yield,  in  the  mean  time,  is 
often  very  serious. 

But  the  inference  which  farmers  draw  from  this  fact 
IS  not  a  legitimate  one,  for  they  say  that  it  proves  that 
the  grasses  that  come  in  ''  naturally."  that  is,  the  wild 
grasses,  are  best  adapted  to  the  soil,  and  will  produce 
more  largely  than  others  in  that  locality.  But  this,  if 
carried  out  to  its  natural  consequences,  would  lead'  to 
the  conclusion  that  new  species  of  {.lants  should  never 
be  introduced  into  any  soil,  because  those  best  suited 
to  It  grow  there  "naturally," -a  principle  which  no 
man  will  assort. 

Oil  the  contrary,  ne  great  object  of  all  intelligent 
farming  is  to  improve  upon  nature,  and  to  increase  the 
natural  capacities  both  of  the  soil  and  of  the  plants 
which  grow  on  it ;  and  the  introduction  of  new  species 
and  varieties  is  one  of  the  most  effectual  means  of  ac- 
complishing this  end.     Particular  species  of  plants  do 


M 


nilTATION    O,.      CAITHK.  293 

aoci,io„t     .-4-,l     ,  .     '"."'•■■"">  '""  "l»-"  IVon,  nioro 

i;:X  rrvr'- 
plants  or  vurieties  of  .Z         •  .  i  ^'''^  '""''^  ^"'"'""» 

IS  vorv  o-enpr-illv- .iwr.      j   •  mai  ,i  ^t  t.iii)  >,)ecie.s 

by  M.,y  nieiu.s,  prove  tli-it  it  f-  I  ^"'-''  "o^' 

of  thut  distri  .     t  nn     '     Vr  ''•  ""''^'^'  '"  ^''^'  '^"'' 

be  sure  to  co  ne   n  if      '  h    ,"'  ^'^'^■"^^■^'  "^^•-  ^''^^^  ^t  will 

ongin.      it  w.,s    ior  rio^^L^X;'^'^'  ""^'^'•" 
commenced  tli(.ii,.„t  i„  ■  ''""   Practice 

a  thick  .U.1  K„„  ';,,d  o';''''r, "  ^''""  "■'"■'" '"  f"™ 

species  l,a,  bed  """'"'»'{. '"looted  „,„„l,e,- of 

qitickly.  '°  "«<""l'l'»l'  tl.is  object  most 

of'S.Lo''::!^:^"^"  "n°»-  «■'•"■  --  d0K,.ee 
tl.o  impo,-     ,:„  of        en,"'!'''  '  """'•'   "•'"   '■"'■-  '» 

in  ovci-.see,li„.-  ,.;tb  ul  f  *  """'  -"i^'i'ined 

or  rnedi,,,,,  -  L       ^r.ifrV'"^''-'' ""''  <™™  ™all 

lures  of  gmsJl  ""'  '"""'"°"  '"  "'«  "i^- 

More  than  si.,,  , ears  r.g„,  carefu,  e.peHmeuts  were 


294 


TIME    OP    SOWING     GRASSES. 


r'fi 


■    '         ■:■        if 


'I    i 


il! 


U<"i  I.' 


«  ou  <l  .settle  the  question  a.  to  the  best  tin.e  of  sovvino- 
g  ..*  coJ,  „„J  tl,e  i.raetice  of  sce<li„g  do,™  i„  t|,c  fkU 
«a»  tl,e„  co„mK.„ce.l  l,y  a  fo„-  iujividuals.    At  a, 
before   i,at  t,„,o,  the  practiee  of  scviag  iu  ti.e  snH  ! 
was  „,„v-er.al,  „,„!  the  sa.ae  cstoa,  InJven  ™,  c  2 
I>.eva,lec„ll  w  ,hi„  a  ve,,-  few  years.     Both  '      ^  fe'- 
t.ce  a,„l  the  op„„o„  of  the  host  praetieal  larn,ers  ia  t he 
no  them  and  eastern  sh.tes  have  changed  to  a  con'  d 
erable  extent,  and  it  is  now  eoanno.dy  ^,0,,..°,"  be"  1 1„ 
•    sow  gras..seed  in  the  fail,  early  in  .^^.tea.be    if  pol  • 
be,  m,.x,ng  no  grain  or  anything  else  with  it,  tl  Ig  I 
there  are,  and  always  will  be,  son.e  cases  where    hi 

iJ^Z  T"?°  "°  "°'"'*  """  ''  '''  '■"  "'o-^'  »'os,  an 

gcthc.  Jhe  follownig  stjitement  of  „n  ,VNnerienced 
and  successfal  tinker  will  enable  ns  to  o  a„  e|  e  ,d 
owte  change  was  broaght  aboat,  thongl,  „„  ^^  d 
tried  the  same  expernnent  long  before  "him.  "Jlore 
than  twenty  years  ago,  wo  had  several  dry  summe  ,! 
the  spnngs  of  which  I  had  sown  grass-seed  w  t  C 
bar  oy,  and  sometia.e.s  wheat,  and  lost  „„st  of  ^y  Li 
by  the  dronght.     I  coal.l  scra,,e  it  np,  the  plan"\e  „„ 

;:;::  Litdi-:';:' "'"'  '"''"'• """  --"•  '^"-'"^ 

Other  n.rmers  probably  experienced  the  same  diffi 

d  -^r-;;:  t^ir;; !";''» r^™"^^|-■o...  onr ":.;!! 

tint  we  mi'     ,    ,  ?"'  *""  "  '^  '•'"''  «•»"  ""'ierstood 

tbatwemnst  calculate  on  a  drought  ia  some  part  of 

be  sunuucr,  and  grass  will  sulfer  more  from  d  ought 

Imn  fron,  Irost.    Hence  the  propriety  of  fal     ^itg 

Ibere  are  some  localities,  undoubtedly,  where  l^ 


PRACTICAL    OPmoxs.  095 

tl'o  gmmul  i    <,rto,rC  'iM  .        P™--^""".'-  "f  (lio  sea, 

greater  reason  is,  tliat  i,,  f  ,lr  1     ^        !        '^'"^   """"'"r 
of  weeds,  ,vi       in    '  ,  1        r''"'«  '  S<='  '-''I  "fa  crop 

"I  rather  preft  t  e V.  m"*?''"'  «"■"=•■ -rites  me. 
down  iand.*^  T  L  e  .sn  ,  T,  ,'"  '"'«'"^'  '"'^  ■"«'='I'"S 
summer  dr.,„gl,   l ,  eU  „    '  '  "'  "•"  "•■->""'''>■  l".vo  t 

the  summer  droiiL'litsn,.,,....,  '  '*"™  soonei- 

"■later,  tl.ey  l"  tot  .a"!?!,      '"J""  ""  J"""K '''aJ.-s 
at  t,,„t'de,:,.ee  of  m       it7  »"•  rV^''"'  ""' r'^ 
the  ensuing  season."  He  sa^  ato  tl,  r'/'-  '^°°''  ""P 
"  is  f„„n,i  necessary  to  so  v  wiH  '  ',"  ""•'■  "'""■ 

«.e  sprinp.and  not   n  tl,  II      ifon'"'  ',■'  "'"'"'^  '■"  "' 
■aeiids  "  the  latter  n.,r,  !f  a      '^"°"'"  fa'mer  .ecom- 

Septeml,or  fo  "eL^^d         7T  "'"^  "'«  '"»""'  °f 

unless  t„at  i::^2:!z'\x:;  iiT' i^r'"'- 

fvs  some  of  i>  m.,,.   i     ^i  .  t.aitii  is  vorv  drv. 

ParingHie  I  ,1  , ,;."  ;"'/'"r,""'°  '"■°"S'"  "P  '"  P'- 
"re  to  s„p  "rt  f'  wi  ',  h'  "°'  '""'"«  '"""■"""-■''  '""■»'■ 
'iBi.ter  so'elirlln:  rirJ'!!:.:'.:?'  ^'""•!—  "f  tl.e 
to 


•^Pi-nnt.  for  a  lack  of 


perhaps,  swell  by  moisture,  but  fiul 


perisli,  while  oth 


nourishment,  and 


t'l-s  will  be  blow 


consequentlj' 


ii 


11  away  by  the  wind 


ril 


29G 


PRACTICAL     EXPERIENCE. 


olii  l-iuj..     Clover  shoukl   be  sow,,   i,,  ,1,^  '    ,i,|t  ,„ 

o ,";;,;:;  ""T'n""  """■ "'"  '■'-^'  -  °'"  »'■ "-  s  r„,d 

rathe,  tl,u„  .„e„e,.  ,„  ,|„  „„t„„„    ,,^  "^0, 

too  severe  for  the  tender  loots." 

A„  exi,erie„eeJ  forn.er  wiitcs  as  folh„vs  .•  "  0„  raoist 
lai,cl  I  p,-eier  to  turn  over  the  creen  .«..i,.,l  „,Y 

sprint-"'     "F^h-mK  a  /^^  i"^i  tlut  1  sow  oarly  m 

ber    r  the   b  i.^Tlr/'T  "'"'^'  1^'"'  "f  ^^=P*- 

anothe,,  "a.  hi  ,h„  of    ,:':::•;.;  f/.f  ''"■d."  -.V^ 

not  be  bu,-„ed  up  by  the  8u„\^''"  ,•-     '""•'""<' 

Another  «•,,. .  ..  r         f       •  ^  ■'■  '■""'''  '"J  in  «|iiMiir  " 

^>T.te„tbe;:to';;;z  ;,:„!■;;';:::". ;',::;:"  '-r  -' 

t'oe  he,.o  is  to  .eed  wtth  wheai^  rv'^lf.^ --'bro: 


'fombor,  if 
ml  be  pre- 
(-»ras.s-.seocl 
'(3  killed  in 

0  time  of 
',  or  grav- 
f<priii<v  as 
e  gruuncl, 
probably, 
*!•  i.s  often 

Oil  moist 
sr  haying-, 
1st,  after 

grass  an 
loiith  of 
mowing, 

early  in 

i^eptem- 
fl,"  says 
■oot,  and 
f^pring." 
it  to  the 

oats  or 
'ummer- 
e  grain, 
'-i  taken 
)ne  sea- 

uit  "if 
iiith  to    , 
L'oss  in 
,nist  or 

1  prac- 
bor  or 


PALL    AND    SPRING    SOWING.  297 

uit  not  <r:r''^r;!:™'^  r""  -t  '"'  ^™«-""^ 

spring,  l,«c,.u,e  it  wint  r.k  L"    T"  i;"™  "»""  '"  "'o 

on  tli,3  sui.jcct;    some  ,„„i;.,-  .   "'"""'"""■■<  i«gion 
with  tho  .irin,-  K,,       i,  ,-f°"'  "'"  6'-"'«-'"--o<I 

sow  in  A.gLt.''  I  "  .,   '      '^^  r'""  """"■'  r-efcr  to 

ti^.H-ti.Vo„n;;:is:;;t::i.r''«^-p^^^^ 

designed  for  mowing  „  Ln  1?^^'"'°  ''"»"  '-"' 
sown  in  Maicl,  the  L,  ,„V'     '  "  '""*""  """  'f 

tW  eflcct»  ol'  heavy'l"  I  r,T""  '?  ?■"'""•'  '™'» 
"P  well,  an,l  if  »own  l^  '  '  '';V'f  1"^'''  ""'  ™'"» 
does  not  „t,ui„  ,h,.t  deg."!  of  Z.uK'""""  ""  e''"-- 
withstand  tho  froonon   frn^.tl,  ,'"-'  '"  '"'"^''»  "  '« 

eeeding  winto,-.  "'^;:"'„':, .  ^:'f,r^ !  "rii-i"'' '"^  ^- 

protect  tho  young  grns,,  on  thi     ,1,  T        T-"".'" 

to  sowing  irrass^,..,,!  ..ft  '"'»  '^'•""l-  Jheohjocfion 
prob„I,l/appl  to  tif  7  ''"S'f''  I'an-est  will  „ot 
lesschaigiiZ"  *'''"°''  "'•""  'I- winter  are 

On  a  rie,;,  oo^n.pa^^'ot'l.'v  '  .^1:  ril.T'i  T"''^i 
sown  in  April  or  Af-iv  1,,,^  t  """^  ^^'e" 

%  reason  is,  that  whfu'l'  ha™   e  tVrr  "T-"- 
the  spring,  1  have  sown  rye  or  oafs    ■    ,  n     *  '  '1 

genera  ly;  if  not  •!  prn„  „c  ,  ''"  *-'rass.seed 

n»urp  thVpIace  V  ,  ™^.:ln!t  Tf  ,"""«  ""  """ 
a  hot  and  dry  July  wl  A  nf  ,  ',  ,°''"''  *'"""  "'"-  "nd 
escaped  the  Lt:  !u,d  wetdf  r'  -o«id  e.xternnnate  what 

on"!;::;;::z!:r::!,!;'^i-«™-r-"^*^ 

tl.e  character  of  hi„and  and  ;.ife:;:"tt"i'tS^r 


,J 


I 


298 


■1 

! 

>i 

J 

'  ■'    i 

i.i  1 

ill  If:! 


NO    UNIVERSAL    RULE. 


||r   5 


fonc    hat  „o  season  ,s  without  its  exposure  to  loss- 
fo  ,if  Ave  sow  in  autumn  and  have  an  open  and  1. 
Winter,  with  frequent  changes  from  cin^u-unHv  "' 

^-•J  thawing,  weather  to  excessive  cold  t^lo,  ''  ""™ 
wdl  be  likely  to  suiler ;  while,  if  we  o'w  n  '  """'  ^"Z' 
some  kind  of  grain  as   oats    Z}1  ^P^ng  with 

drouo-ht  in   s.Trl    "         "'^^s,  barley,  or  rye,  and  have  a 
uiou^ut  m   .jnng  or  summer,  as  we  generallv  do  ih. 
grass  may  be  injured,  and  may  be  enthelv  k  Ll    '  V 
invariable  rule  for  all  soils  .nV  ^        ^'^^     ^"^ 

But  the  weight  of  ll^   ,/  1^^  fix":  '^  ''''T 
autumn  as  the  best  season  t!  P"""  ^^'^y 

it  alone  withnnf  7  '"'"^  grass-seed,  sowing 

11  cuone,  witiiout  a  grain  cron-  inrl  +i.„  i„        /•  ° 

J!'li!!'T  "."■'  ■'";■''"''■''  "'■l''^-  '■>  ™0'  strong  clavey 
80,.  «l„cl,  refa,,,  a  largo  amount  of  mottnro.  On  such 
BO,  s  tho  frost  is  very  liable  to  "heave"  the  root/  n1 
m,lo,,s  they  , re  ,olled  very  early  in  spring  ,v  ,i  h  it 
suol.  lands,  is  not  usually  practicable,  the  ymng  pan," 

equ.e  thorough  drainage.    They  are  difficult  to  til 
ofitably    w,thout    it,    and,  when    once    thoroughly 
dra,ned,  tho  sa,ne  rule,  as  to  tho  time  of  sowino-,  wou  d 
apply  to  them,  as  to  medium  soils  ° 

wWeh'slt'i;?";'  •"  !'"  '•""'  °f  «««'i"e  down  land, 
iMnch  should  be  found  to  wo,k  best  in  one  latitude 
would  necessarily  apply  i„  a  different  climate"and  undl; 
different  cn-cumstauces.  '"aic,aua  under 


"'^'sio 


"6  to  loss ; 
iiid  severe 
vol  V  warm 
>uiig  grass 
mug  with 
11(1  have  a 
ly  do,  the 
lied.     No 
he  given. 
>on  early 
1,  sowing 
m  proper 
siderably 
rise  from 

g  clayey 
On  such 
:)ots,  and 
hich,  on 
ig  plants 
known, 
t  to  till 
roughly 
;,  would 

'•n  land, 
atitude, 
3  under 


CHAPTER    IX. 

TIME    AND    MODE    OF    CUTTING    GRASS    FOR    HAY. 

ITavixg  carefully  selected  and  judiciouslv  mixed  and 
sown  his  grass-seed  at  a  proper  season,  on  land  properlv 
prepured,  the   hmnev  may  confidently  hope  to  have  an 
abundant  crop  ot  grass  the  following  year,  when  there 
atu..tlly  arises  one  of  the  most  important  questions  in 
the  economy  of  the  farm,  and  that  is  when  Jo  cut  grass 
o  make  into   hay,  or  at  what  stage  of  its  growth  it  is 
most  valuable  for  that   purpose.     This    is  a  poin    on 
which  even  experienced  farmers  differ,  but  the  wei-ht 
o    authority  will  be  found  strongly  f^r  cutting  a   ?!  e 
time  ot  flowering,  ^ 

Most  practical  farmers,  in  answer  to  this  question 
^ay  that  hay  ,s  sweeter,  and  possesses  more  nutHmin  ' 
^yheu  cut  in  full  blossom,  than  at  any  other  stage.  0  1' 
of  the  most  intelligent  farmers  in  the  country  says  •  ''J 
prefer  to  cut  grass  when  in  blossom,  because  it'will 
m.d^e  more  milk  and  more  fat,  and  cattle  prefer  it  to 
that    tand.ng  later.     It  keeps  them  healthy.     I  have  no 

th?fi    r.-n   !I"  "''"1  ^'""^  ''''^^''  "^^'-^  if"  it  stands  in 
lie  field  till  the  seed  forms,  and  for  this  reason  some 

who  sell  most  of  their  hay  let  it  stand."     -  When  dl 

B.gned  for  milch   cows,   store,  or   fattening  animals  " 

says  another,  "  I  prefer  to  cnf  in  th^  u^  i  ' 

. /  '     A  picicr  10  cut  in  the  blossom,  because 

It  makes  more  milk,  more  growth,  and  more  beef  For 
work.n^  cattle  and  horses  I  cut  about  six  days  after  the 
pollen  has  fallen,  because  it  does  not  scour  or  loosen 

(299) 


300 


PRACTICAL    FACTS, 


that  roweuCll  nn^  <  r"'"'', '"""  6™-' "-"hint 

ti.n-vo  bono,,  tl;     ::';::f::;^'  """";r  '■"'-»' 

'•al(li>  lia,d-  at  work      U',    ,       ,        '' f*  '"  "'"  ™»"  "f 
wo„l,i  not  bo  caton  „t  nil  ■ '       •    "   ■'""""'   '"   "'"turo, 

PoI^irS:':;;-t;i;  -;-';;"  .»™o.  „„  „„ 

to   fall,  a„.l   bclbro   tl.oy   I  hvV  .     ,•  11       "T"!"' '"^'e'" 
««.no,-,  ,„oro  «voo,m1     ,  .1    i       "„'""".  ""'"  '''  "'^ 

blo«,om,a»  it  i»  tbcn  in  tl  „  be  ",,';  "  T  II'^'  ''"  "'» 
^vou.ly  „nd  „,„ob  swoe  "r  t  '  ,  '  'T""«'-''-'»» 
roots  in  betioi-  8t-i(,    f  ,     '■'  '"''■  '«"'"■■'  tlie 

crop."    Ano  I  o,  V  °  ";  V°T^'  "  """'^"''  '"""'"I 

"  Wo  out  i„  iz: :  :  'f  ;  ,':7"»'  '-■-•■■  ^ays.- 

to  stock.     If  allowo,    tn    ,      .  '■'"  '"""'  l'"'''tablo 

■t  IS  i].orouso<l  in  value  at  Wl  '""-'■'•''''' ""l^-'-'J, 
from  n,y  own  o.xporio  e  '  i^  tb-M;';""""'  ''^'■""l 
soouordie  out  if  allowcl  f„  ,  ,  «'"'"""'*  '"" 
wbo  p,o(b,.s  to  cut    r:  "'      ''""'•■■'    ^^   f^"-""--'- 

«avs,'.It  w  II  uotl  ,  ""'"r"-""  "■'"••"  '•■'  I'l-^'"". 
till  sonu.  <  f  o  :it  ir",  "°,i"""'  »'■  <■""•'  "-'"w 
An   intelligent   In."'.   A         '  "'""  "'"  "'""  -""•" 

Ensiisb  pts  is  •:  Zn  b  Is  r-n  r:;;;:;'-''^'  '7"": 

.t.os  it  can  bavo.     P,,,n,  ,1,,.  V    i    -  if;!    '"".''- 

value  ,n  proportion  to  tbe  tin.o  win cl   it      i         ""  I" 
Lay  sboubl  bo  cut  mtber  green      I f    ,  ll  .  •    7"^" 

-al  <iry.-.     Anotber  savs  f''wl  c  ,     "bo  ,  ",7' '    "  '"f 
blossom  ialU      Tl.^  •     ,  °"*  *"*^  *"no  the 

ossom  lalJ..     The  grass  is  then  at  its  full  growth.     If 


I 


3     blossODl."' 

S8,  We  think 
>  or  hordes, 

tllO  C'flHO   of 

Ji'«,  that  ill! 
'  stock  tule- 
to  mature, 

'er  on  fin's 
<onis  hi'giij 
t  Ijiis  more 
liui  if  out 
3ut  Jater." 
'ifij  in  tho 
iiig-,— less 
eaves  the 
or  annual 
iier  says  : 
I>alatal»le 
lie  re  is  a 
^\'liich  is 
<",  'iideed, 

(lerivecl 
'ses   will 
-   farmer 
I'h'.'^som 
meadow 
'111  out." 
"  Wlien 
od  qual- 
loses  in 

Swalo 

is  hard 

imo  the 

th.     If 


THEOIiY    ^ND    PRACTICE.  301 

it  Stands  muc.h  longer,  tho  leaves  begin  to  dio  .t  H 
'bottom,  ani     f  irt   mi......  '^      uj  mjo  at  tlie 

fi"Mi<  „;.  „ ,:  f ■ '  r'Tr  ";""'■ '""'  '""■''  •  -"I  I 

fired       If  u    •  .     '  '<-t*s  It  Will  weii-h  w  mmi 

to  feci  ,mt  t„  „,.u-  n,il,.|,  I'lossorii;  l„,t,  if 

r-'o'- '"  out  it :.  .:'t';  '""jt";-;  r  "■'"'"■; '  "■'■'"" 

I"'-'-."     On.'    ,  ,"  """■;„"'""^^'  'l<M.l,le  tl,at  out 

red   clove     hcibi  TT   7'"/""'™-      "'   '^"'   "'X 

'"'II-  of  tho  CL  '  , ,  ^"■^'  ',  7"  "  ^'''•■"'  o"ly  oue 
«-l.-u  i,  s,.  /,•,,'"?,'■'"  ■".!"•■»<' more  l,y  |,„|,; 
when  cut  ;,:!, o"-,;,^";;^"-  ''">■  ■"  "•«  '-■"  n,«ol,  i,eavie,. 

of  r;r»rrp;:t:i'  r """°"'  i™'" » '-«°  -»'-■ 

eonut,,-,  nKli™,";'";  "'j:^^;:,;'-^' '"  "■"■-■o>;t  Pa.t.  „r,l,o 

individuals  show  tl,..f   f..,.,       """^;  ''»"   tifty  (hUerent 
^  Miow  rnat  larmers  prefer  f<>  r-nf  fi, 

before  Wos«,ul^  i;,'!'-'"?  "  "  "P"'  »'"'  S-^'erally 

PHnc:;ir.'nf  "oii^Tne';:'' ■■  't-"*"  ""  ^  ---' 
^.t-o„.  ^-,™cip,esstatedi;.;  ,^^^^:ttT: 


PnoVmciAL  LWRARy 
VICTORIA.  D.  C. 


!       ii;H 


II 


302 


PROCESSES    OP    GROWTH. 


been  .een  that  the  nntritivo  substances  of  ^rass  are 

such  .  .  sug-ar,  ghiton,  and  other  compound..     Xou-  i 
eyulent  that,  if  tin's  is  so,  the  ,n-ass  should  be  a    '■ 

ff  onth   the  sugar  and  other  sohible  substances  a-ridu 

a  y  .ncrease,  till  the,-  .each  their  n^axinnnn  ^.^^ 

he  Mosson,  or  when  the  seed  is  fully  formed  in  the 

^0  I.    from  tins  per.od  the  saccharine  matter  constant  v 

.r  ;:r-"  f*!;.^--'^  «^>-'  p--^-tiy  insoh^^i^ 

^^ate,,  and  mnutnt.ous,   increases    till   after  the  seeds 

c:::rifrS"'^"^''^p''"^^^ 

cou  .0,  ,f  the  plant  ,s  not  cut  in  the  tlower,  a  great  mrt 
of  t  e  nutrnnent  of  its  stems  and  leaves  is  'wafte'l    ' 

J^T\r7''  "'^'^^''°'"  *°  ^'"^  '■"  tl.o  natural 
gia  se.,  as  a  ready  seen   in  considering-  their  nutritive 

mattei   n  the  npen.ng  of  the  seed.    Most  of  the  masses 
00,  make  a  greater  quantity,  of  hay  when  out  a    the 

r„  °f  ,n  rrt?  "'°"^"  *''  "'^•^"  ^"^'-^  ''^' "» 

oeen   touii  1  to   be  an  exception   to  tliis  rule     Fowl 

neaclow,  a  so,  contains  an  equal  quantity  of  pro  iuce  a 

the  t,me  of  r.pening  the  seed  and  at  the  time  o    W„s 

sonnng   and   the  na.ritive  matter  at  both  pert    t 

about  the  same.     It  will  be  found  in  practice'gen    III" 


lit 


'  grass  are 

ill  water, 
'.    Now,  it 

b(j  flit  at 
it  of  those 
contains  a 
;s   earliest 
'OS  gradii- 
orcentage 
od  ill  the 
'onstantly 
iohihlo  ill 
the  seeds 
cay.     Of 
^reat  part 
ted. 

e  natural 
nutritive 
riods  of 
•ass,  Sin- 
the  seed 
i  to  five ; 
in  more 
1  at  tlie 

loss  of 
tnt  been 
lutritive 
grasses, 

at  the 
tail  has 
Fowl 
luce  at 
)f  blos- 
iods  is 
uerallv 


RESULT    OF    OBSERVAIIOXS.  303 

Imps,  mo,o  LyZZ         ,  ™""""  "' "  I'""-."  or  pcT- 
vital  tv  o.  th!.,   ,    i  ?"'"'' J'  '"''"'■"•  '"  "'"^'l'  (1.0 

^vitl,o„t  reference  io  I '•'    '"  '''"'"  ''  "'■■''■''"«''. 
proceed  tl.o   ?!  '""''''  °'  '"""'""•<'■     F'""'  tl.co 

".Kl  from  tl,„     te   r    '"'"'"'■'  ',''"  ''"""^  I'-'. 

fibres  fenj!;;  .r;,:™::?/''^"^'' ""'''» ''"-■•- 

tain  am„;,'r"f  "nrtHr"'  •'"■='"'™"'*  °''  '"'--.  "  oer. 
loave.,„rretn     d    n,  7"   i-   assin.iluted    i„  ,|,e 

"  ti;rir.:  ^nr^rf  - ';  -™'>'-'-. 

desiccation  or  drvn»..  appe.uance  ol  u  state  of 

directly  above  f  i^^  tl,e  "Z?  "°"'"™^';"*;  "'  "  P"'"' 
rtem,  near  the  cro    n  o  tie   uber  ;"'"'"', J.""'*  "f  "'» 

''-icoation  Kradualirpr  gresse  „i™';'  "'","7'  *''» 
portion  of  tl.e  stall-  tlinV  ,  I  "P™"'*.  and  fl,e  last 
adjoining  tlV^^  '^"',  y.^'l.Y'P.';*  fresl.ness  is  ,l,at 
thi,  n,.,°  •  ■  '^'"""'lent  ivuli  llie  bejriunii,.-  of 
tl>.3p.ocesa  >s  t,.e  full  development  of  the 's eedlfanj 


B 


4 


304 


GROWTH    OP    TIMOTHY 


^'^^^=t^ic::^L-^z:^^::^ 


W  I 


ii 


1 1 


ill 


fi> 


Fig.  15S. 


tliei 


,/1 


/. 


/'J 


^7. 


Fife'-  159. 


V!^ 


ne,r  req„,.s,te  supplios  of  n«trition,  and  <l,at  neitl.er  the 
atalk  nor  the  leaves  are  longer  neces.ar,  to  aid  them  t 


-*t,.. 


SU(U;,.:.STIVE    concll'sioxs. 


0.3 


'-   nnfuno-  of  that   o,-.an      Fi '    r<,         '  """""^'"^ 
^^■'^^  ^•>>^  after  to    ,u      t   '       .  '    "'"  "''""''  ^''^^  '^^'^'k 

^'^■'-'^^■^'on  will  I..  ,Jj,;'2  ';  '^"'^^'•'^^'-•Ppl/.s 
<^c'aso,  an.I  an  ..(fort  will  ho  n  '  .  '■'"''  -'■""■^''  "'''" 
^•^'"'l'"^^  out  small,  lateral  tnli  ..  V  ''''"'';"  ^''"  '"•''"•.^'  l'^' 

'-'--iti,- stalks  \viii;;'o^'r;T  "''^'' ^^•'^'^^^ 

original  tubers.     Tl.is  is  ^,.,,,    !  \.     ,''.  expense  of  the 
«^''tel,^  perish  eitlJ';"r".!'^^^-^^^-     All  .ill  nlti- 

"t-  flu. 


ni'ilciv  ,,0,-wl,  ,.i(T,„,.  I     ;,"'"'  '''K-  I'^K.    All 


"•'•'■"•••.  "■  left  to  /,.o  if :;,,::,"  "■"■"  '''"•'■"^'  •'-• 

of  tiie  year,  the  result  will   i..  „,'''">' '''-'"son 

-'-■'t>viii„p,«,:'!;4''j,;''» ''-'I.  of  ,,,„,,,,,,,, 

rMsturo.  ■^        ^       '"'-'  ''""o'ved  to  run  ij,  tl,e 

»n;-j;:;;;'t,'z;,:;-,'^.";p.,Ti.„,,,,,, 

™once,l  on  tl,e  Stalk,  L  notdi,  ,t7'",""'  '""  "'""• 
"  ■»  not  ve,y  e«ontia|  wi.e  ^  t  ,    i""Position. 

«'rl,er  „r  later,  p.ovide.l    tll         ."  l'«'»"no,l  a  wock 


!  n 


11 


;P«- 


3()G 


KlLLlr.1'    BY    CLOSE    MOWING. 


II 


$.  All  iittoinptm  at  closo  Hliavinp^  tlie  nwiird  Hlumld  bo 
avoi(lf«l  whilo  using  tho  scytlic,  and  in  yaugiii;;-  niow- 
iii^"'  niacdiiiicM  cro  slioiild  lie  (akcii  to  niii  tliuiu  so  Iiinh 
that  tlu'v  will  net  cut  tliu  'riinotliy  Ik'Iow  tlio  second 
joint  aliovo  the  tulx-r. 

1  liavo  frccjucntly  |Mili(>d  up  tlu-  I.hIImius  roots  of 
Timothy  from  the  Htul»l)lo,  from  wliicli  a  lu'avy  cron  had 
l.cen  cut  with  tho  scythe,  wfiilo  in  ilowcr,  lor  tho'  pur- 
pt)SL>  ot  studying  the  changes  whicli  were  taking  place 
ill  these  tuhers,  and  have  found  them  very  simiiai  to 
those  represented  in  Figs.  1.")!)  and  1(;(».  not  only  on 
moist,  dam[)  soils,  but  also  on  soils  comparatively  dry. 
Any  farmer  can  satisfv  himself  of  the  correctness  of 
tiiese  representations  by  a  little  observiition  in  his  own 
fielils  :  and,  us  tho  point  is  of  practical  importance,  it  is 
Worthy  of  carelul  attention. 

The  facts  above  alluded  to  have  fallen  under  the  ob- 
servation of  a  practical  farmer,  who  writes  me  as  fol- 
lows :  "The  proper  time  to  cut  Timothy  is  after  the 
seed  is  formed,  and  is  full  in  the  milk.  It  will  then  give 
about  twenty  per  cent,  more  weight  than  when  it  is  just 
coming  into  the  blossom,  and  tho  cattle  will  eat  twenty 
per  cent,  less  and  keep  on  their  flesh.  And  I  prefer 
also  to  cut  it  at  that  stage  of  its  growth,  on  account  of 
the  roots  being  better  able  to  withstand  the  di'ought. 
It  should  be  cut  four  inches  from  the  ground,  as  most 
of  tho  Timothy  is  killed  by  mowing  close  and  early, 
before  it  has  come  to  maturity.  ]  h  ive  kept  'J'imothy 
thick  and  sti'ong  :i)  the  land  six  years  hv  'bilowing  tlu3 
method.  I  have  noticed  that  mo-^i  S  i<,  iu  -  died  out 
by  once  or  twice  close  and  early  mowing,  before  the 
grass  has  come  to  maturity.  If  it  is  dry  weather,  it  is 
sure  to  die  when  so  cut.  I  lost  a  wdiole  field  of  it  by 
mow'ng  too  closo 'and  early,  and  I  consider  the  four 
i'lches  at  the  bottom  of  coarse  Timothy  of  little  value." 


■^. 


<1  tilionld  bo 

uyiii;^-  mow- 

liuiii  f<o  liij^h 

tilt'  secoiitl 

lis  i\)()t.s  of 
vy  noM  iiiiil 
for  tlio  |iur- 
r.kiiiL:'  phico 
V  siiuiliir  l<> 
lot  only  on 
itively  thy. 
■rec'tiiO!!i8  of 
ill  liis  own 
rtaiiLH.',  it  is 

(li;r  tlio  ob- 
iiie  as  fol- 
s  alter  tlio 
11  then  give 
on  it  is  just 
cat  twenty 
1(1  I  prefer 
aeeount  of 
le  drought. 
11(1.  as  most 
and  early, 
pt  Tiinotiiy 
lowing  this 
>  died  out 
before  the 
ather,  it  is 
Id  of  it  by 
'r  the  four 
ttle  value." 


METHOtS    OF    CUTTIN-a.  gg^ 

ir  tho  seed  is  allowerj  to  rii.en   Jf       . 
«'••  mure  than  if  eut  in  the  bl  v^     '        '^''""'^'"^  ^'^°  «f""I 

1''-  old  ,uethods  o    e      i         """•  •     . 
^'' ---y  I'-ctieal/i.      ''''^,;:''r '-' '-^  -Wluniiiar 
^'•ynn.st  boguthered    ,   \«  '^'"■^^'^'^■"'^■^•-"'n- 

^•''^'"■"-'  -'•tl^ii/lint;.ndT'"^''"^ '''"'•  ^'^  ^°  '-• 

-•    i^eearious,  generally  oppt    ::^     ,;7'^-  ^^^i^ 
t.tsk  doubly  irksome  and  uc'trin.       t>      V     ""^'  ^'"^ 


Fiif.  101.    Coinmoii  Soytl.ea.  m 

a^out  tho  same  time,  which    if  .ii        , 
long,  will  decrease  in  nu         I       fT'^  ^^  '^^"'   '  ^oo 
'-^'.t  cthorwise    ha4'  ;:   r^;'"^^  7"'-  «^"  J-"      ineh 
^•on^iUeration  I  rei.-,rd  •  ^'■"'"  ^^-     ''^'""^   last 

^r  availing   ou;:^     ':;■;;;;•'  ^''-^'-.ostrea  on' 

•-^J"-ne,  by  which   ft  can   be         ""  , ''    '''^'    '"-'   "^^ 

4":^;tte~ 

«t-H]ingtheel]brtS^;t^t;d  :;;"'"■"'  ''^'^^^-'^^ 
I-'ople  believe  it  is  a     fun       I       n'  •"■''^^'"  ^^'  '"'^'- 
every  voluntary  muse     i      ie  b  , v    •'.  "^' •  ^'^''^-  "'^'^^''-^ 
tbe  more  frequent    and    .e'ul      ^     '^"''■'''^" '"^  "'''^^ 
^niscles,  but,  on  account  of"  le    w^r ''"'"'^  '''  ^''^"^^ 

ucor  the  tnisting  motion  of  the 


ii 


i»fi 


308 


illSTORY    OF    MOWING    MACHIXES. 


1^1 


body  an  unusually  great  exertion  of  muscular  power 
iN  or  does  ,t  require  any  small  amount  of  skill  to  become 
a  goo,!  mower,  since  it  is  proverbial  that,  unless  the  boy 
becomes  accustoined   to  the  scythe,  and   learns  while 
young,  lie  can  never  become  a  skilful  mower. 
_    That  the  ingenuity  of  man  slu.uld  have  been  turned 
into  tins  direction,  therefore,  and  studied  to  shorten  and 
iighten  this  severe  operation,  is  not  at  all  strange.    That 
It  should  not  have  been  done  before,  should,  perhaps 
rather  excite  our  surprise.    The  reaper  has  been  known 
and  used  on  a  limited  scale  for  lialf  a  century  ;  and  as 
the   process   of  mowing  by  machinery  is  not  wholly 
unhke  that  of  reaping,  the   one  would  seem  to  have 
been  naturally  suggested  by  the  other. 

The  first  mowing  machine  which  met  with  any  success 
111  this  country  is  believed  to  have  been  that  of  William 
Manning,  of  New  Jersey,  patented  in  1831,  and  which 
met  with  a  limited  success  more  than  twenty  years  ago 
1  he  machine  was  furnishe.l  with  the  serrated  or  saw- 
tooth knile,  having  a  vibratory  motion. 

In  1834  appeared  the  Ambler  patent,  simple  in  its 
construction,  with  a  cutter-bar  of  wrought  iron,  and 
a  single  smooth-edged  knife,  operated  by  means  of  a 
crank,  winch  gave  it  the  vibratory  motion.  It  was  used 
to  considerable  extent  in  1835  and  183G. 

Another  machine  was  used  to  some  extent  in  1835  by 
which  the  cutting  was  performed  by  circular  knives 
astened  on  the  periphery  of  a  horizontal  wheel,  five 
feet  ,n  diameter.  The  wheel  was  suspended  on  a  per- 
pendjcu  ar  iron  shaft,  which  hung  on  a  lever,  by  means 
o  ^v  Hch  the  driver  could  elevate  or  lower  the  knive. 
at  wi  .  The  motion  was  given  by  gearing  connected 
with  the  wheels  on  which  the  machine  rested  It  was 
operated  by  two  horses,  and  was  capable  of  mowing 
ten  acres  a  d-^-  ° 


\y 


liar  power. 

to  become 

3SS  the  boy 

sarns  wliile 

?en  turned 
liorten  antl 
nge.  Tbat 
1,  perliaps, 
Ben  known 
y  ;  and,  as 
ot  wholly 
11  to  have 

ly  success 
if  William 
md  Avhich 
rears  ago. 
1  or  saw- 
pie  in  its 
iron,  and 
sans  of  a 
was  used 

ilS35,by 
r  knives, 
heel,  five 
on  a  per- 
>y  means 
e  knives, 
3nnected 
It  was 
mowing 


to  need  spreadii,..-  ■'         ""*  »'-"  ''■''  "s  not 

lii't  it  was  not  till  .,   ,  ""  "■"■'•*"  ''*  '•"aO. 

c'l"..o  was  CO,",,  ,,,",•    '^^P;:''-^""  ''""^  »'"^  <l.c.  ,„a. 

'-p;'  of  i.s  „„i„.a.e  :l:;.:,:;:z::  ^'-^  ^"""^'-' 
at.i;:t:;:^:::;:::t;'S::;;vr'T"'V"'"-'""-''"- 

»"'!  <l,e  objeetio,,.  wl.ic  2  nl  !'?  '"'  ,'"  ''""■"■• 
'l.e...  a,-e  .„ei,  „»  ca„  eanlAe  o  •  a  IT"™  ^'  """'"  '" 
feet  ma„ulaet,„o,  a„J  by  ,  ,„,v.  s  HI        .  ^"  "  """''-'  l'"'- 

ope,-a.o,..  ,t  iv,Kiee<,,i„';: ,",.'/  ;:,;";;■' "',  '"" 

I't-'en,  ui  manv  n<ioo  ,.  •  "  '^  '"^^' ^''-^t  tliey  havy 
fact  tl,at  „,■'„>.;•„■■  """'-■'■'-•".-"a.ie:  a,'..!  tl,o 
or.le,-l,a.  tl„o  V,,  d  , Z      ■•   ''";?  ^"  "'■'«"  g»'  0"t  of 

a  nc»-  u.ael,i,  e  ,;,  "'"  "'»»"'"'",„„.  ,„„.,l,„ses 

"■'■tl',  Pe,C     "l  ';  !'  '""'^I'.'m^elf  l„-o„.d,t  to  a  T.and, 

r.  '"I.  cal,,,e,  and  i-ena,,-,,,^  (in  flii„.,,,„        i     .      . 
anew,  tlii-ow<  I,  .i«,-,i„         ''.     ,  "'""■iMf,  and  stai-tino- 

<fe"n,    tl.e,, ,,;'"",       """t  "■'""''<^-'  "■"!  CO,: 

f"l  an,I  ■,ow  li    Tf,;,,  •  ™i    •  ""'^"''  "'"■  '"-'  "- 

ope,-ator.     A  ,„ae  i„     !   .  ',.   '^  "'^'  '».""  ""'-"Ir  of  tl,e 


er 


aft 
mac'l 


niachme  ought  not  to  be  cond 


a  complete  and  full  tiial     I 


em 


""es  have  succeeded,  to  the  perfe 


>ut  enough  of  tl 


lied  till 


lese 


perfect  satisfaction  of 


« I 


m  r- 


310 


BUYING    CHE4PLY-MADE    TOOLS, 


li 


the  commuDity,  to.  show  that,  wliatever  defects  some 
ot  tl.em  may  have,  tliey  mny  be  made  to  accomplish 
tJie  work  I'or  Avhich  tliey  were  intended. 

The  manufacturer  is  not  alone  to  blame,  as  a  general 
thn]g,for  the  defects  of  an  implement  to  be  used  on  the 
tarm.  The  farmer  too  often  prefers  a  machine  which 
IS  least  expensive,  and  no  matter  how  well  it  is  made, 
he  will  nisist  upon  having  it  at  the  lowest  possible 
price  at  which  it  can  be  atlbrded.  Manufiicturers  are 
therefore  compelled  to  slight  the  work  in  order  to  meet 
the  wants  of  the  people,  and  cheaply-made  articles 
alone  can  be  sold  cheap  enough  to  suit  the  wishes  .^ 
the  buyer.  In  this  way  both  the  manufiicturer  and  ihe 
farmer  suffer.  It  is  poor  economy,  as  a  general  rule,  to 
buy  cheap  articles. 

As  to  the  comparative  economy  of  the  use  of  tlie 
machine  and  hand  labor  on  small  farms,  it  seems  to  me 
the  experiments  of  the  past  season  throughout  the 
country  have  fully  decided  the  question  in  favor  of  the 
former.  On  this  point,  however,  the  opinions  of  prac 
tical  men  will  be  found  to  differ,  to  some  extent,  though 
the  weight  of  the  testimony  of  those  who  have  had  any 
actual  experience  with  the  machine  will  be  found  to  be 
strongly  in  its  favor.  And  this  is  especially  the  case  of 
those  who  have  been  fortunate  in  obtaining  a  machine 
properly  constructed  and  put  together. 

In  answer  to  the  circular  sent  out  to  obtain  the  opin- 
ions of  practical  farmers  as  to  the  result  of  their  experi- 
ence with  the  use  of  the  machine,  one  writes  me, 
saying:  ''As  to  the  economy  of  its  use  in  our  vicinity,' 
we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  tliat  one-half  of  tl'ie 
expense  is  saved  in  using  the  machine  to  cut  and  spread 
grass,  when  compared  with  the  common  scythe,  to  say 
nothing  of  having  it  done  when  the  weather  is  good 
and  the  grass  in  its  proper  state,  whether  in  blossom 


.s. 

lefocts  pome 
)  accomplish 

as  a  general 
used  on  the 
ichine  which 
1  it  is  made, 
est  possible 
iu'turers  are 
rder  to  meet 
ade  articles 
>e  wishes  )*" 
irer  and  ilie 
leral  i'uie;  to 

use  of  the 
seems  to  me 
ughout  the 
liivor  of  the 
)ns  of  prac- 
ent,  though 
ive  had  any 
found  to  he 
the  case  of 
J  a  machine 

in  the  opin- 
lieir  experi- 
writes  me, 
ur  vicinity, 
lalf  of  the 
and  spread 
'the,  to  say 
iv  is  good 
in  blobsuin 


PRACTICAL    TRIALS.  g^ 

or  gone  to  seed,  as  the  owner  prefers     Tho  J 

we  Jmve  used  from  tim  H,-  f  ^^  ,'^;     -^"^  Iiorses  that 

I'undred  each.     ^V    ,      ,   "    ""^''^   '•°'"  ^^»  '^  eleven 

t'- ^est  adapted;:  hi,  j:::rM'^:'^"^^^^-^ 

^^-  'noting,  carting,and  p    ::;^  '"'^^  ''  -""-'  ^-t 
mowing  and  nothhTg  else   we  S^n      "''  ''''  '''''''  ^^^ 

to  their  weighing  n:.re;Ctt:rr'^.f'r^'- 
^vere  snmrt  and  active-  but  •.  '  '"'"^'"''^'J  they 

t'H-ng:  for  it  need     n;on  ^      7'   "^"^^ '"''" ''^  »«t  the 
«l-pe  and  to  work  ;el,      '    "^""  ''  '''''•'  ^'^  -  ^^ood 

the  year,  our  opi,^  ^  ^^f  '''  ^'^  -»-  tin.e  of 
-veat  ,uite  as  much  1 '  ,  "  'T  """'^'  ^''"^*^  --' 
I'ave  no  occasion  to  wo,t  TT  "  ""'"  ^''''^  ^^-^"''l 
tf^e  least,  for  the  rea  ",n  tl  1  V.""  ''  ''  '"■^"'^  '^  - 
firstlmlf  of  thedavC^  n'""'*'  '"^'^^'  ^""''^^  '"  t^o 

of  the  same  or  th   n^'d-  f  w^  t,'' """  '"  *'"  ''^^-"'--^ 
done  our  mowing    he  p t  V  '  T'  '"^'"-  ^^^^  ''^^^« 

pair  of  horses,  w^  kh .g  themT"''.f  ""^  "^^'  *''^  ^^-^- 
per  day.  The'  usuaU^.e  "  Mo  ''"""-^^^  f  ^'^^"  ''^^^ 
two  or  three  hours  or  o  1  ,  tl  "'  '"  '''"  '"^'""'"S 
t!ie  same  team  in  the  -ft      '  '  '''"^'  '"'^^'  ^'^^  '^"^'  "«e 

-d  one-,.d;t^;h;-ie:t^:i;ri:;::;-:  ^^-^"^^ 

In  .  ca.o   with  ,,',,"     '  ',"  '""'""»'  S'""'  "'°'l^-" 

-<t-i>.u-  five  .Jo,  „  „^  rt  =:;ti'  ,'""'"■""  "•'■"'  -^ 

0"lv  -IU.I  to  20  L.  a  ,;,i„  e  „  3;*  ""''""'"/P-'l, 
I'ai  ac-o,  20  .od.  ,,y  4,  ,vitl,  l  d  ,1  "''";;:  ''°"'-' •■' 
of  hav   to  the   aero    wou        .  ~'"*"^  pounds 

r^T  lect,  m  eighteen  muiutes,  including  the 


I 


r-^piumairv 


312 


COMPARATIVE    RESULTS. 


It  , 


m 


turnings     This  would  be  2,V,x  miles  ti.e  hour  inchulino. 
the  tuniino-s.     At  this  r.fp   1  •>in  "  ">  mciuUmg 

were  cut  in  a  minute.    At  the  s-un.>  fl... .  ;'^''i'^=^ 

cut  -i  sxv.tl.  ir«  f    .  !  '^"^  '^  y'^"^^  mower 

cut  .1  sn.tth  108  leet  long  and  7  ieet  wide,niakin...  I  17G 

«q.uu-e  feet,n.  3^  minutes;  or,  at  the  rate  of  aaO^c;!  ! 

ti.e    cj  the.    ^ou■  allownigthe  machine  no  time  fbr   est 
or  tunnng,  zt  cut  a  swatl,  4-    ieet  wide  and  20  rods 
ong,  equal  to  l,5o4A  square  feet  in  a  minute  ^r  1" 
tn^^es  more  than  a  good  mower  with  a  sc    h'e  in  Z 

ing  Mth  such  a  competition  and  a  large  numher  of 
spectators  would  exert  himself  to  his  utmost,  tint 

oeitain  that  he   was  far  better  as  a  mower  than  the 
averag.  of  farm  laborers,  while  at  the  same  t^  "i 
e    dent,  from  the  above-named  speed,  that  the  team 
n  ith  the  machine,  could  work  pretty  steadily  ' 

curbv  !l;::''^^"^^"'-5«  ^f«^«  the  comparative  quantity 
cut  by  tie  machine,  m  this  experiment,  as  five  times 
greater  than  that  cut  by  the  mower.     That  is  to  Tu 

m  ch  n  a  half-day  as  five  men,  or  a  pair  of  horses  and 
a  n  Hchine  equal  to  four  men.  Now,  as  to  the  work 
performed  it  was  admitted  by  all  that  the  machine  cut 
much  the  best;  and,  when  it  is  considered  that  w  th  he 
mower^  one  man  is  required  to  every  five  to  o  Z 
spreading,  we  have  to  credit  the  machine  with  a  ot it- 
man  s  labor  in  spreading,  or  a  machine  and  lu.rseT  '^1 
to  five  men  instead  of  four,  or,  including  the  1  ive 
machine,  and  horses,  equal  to  six  men.  T^us  sunno  e. 
we  will  say,  a  half-day's  work.  suppose., 

The  cost  of  the  six  men  for  the  half-dav,  in  havino- 
would  he  at  least  four  dollars  and  a  half,  unil^r  o  li  fj 
circumstances.    The  cost  of  a  driver  would,  at  the  same 


MEN    AND    HORSES. 


313 


equal  to  thirty-seven  -xud  \^  7u     ^"^'  '^'''^''  ^^'^'"^^1  ^e 

]^-l-,  a  Ian-  charge,  we  have,  ^  ttf? '  7^"f'  ''''  ''''- 
!"1'0'-,   one    dollar   and   ,ht y  tZ        ^  ^^  "^'^^'"'"^ 

instead  of  four  dolhirs  -uu    ,       u  ''"'■''^^'^  ''''^^'' 

more  for  the  interest  'on  co^f        \  "''  "''''""«'  ''^  ''«"'^^" 
two  dollars  and  sixtv-two  -nT  '^^^'"'^^^"■"^'  '"^^I  ^e  liuve 

-■f  iour  dollars  and  fit/"  ,'":"'  ^'^'"^^^  ^"  ^'"-P-- 
Jn  another  inst-.n.-o  ,  i  '   '''^  '^^^'^  *'^"  "'<^n- 

e  on 


M"oce  shnilar  to  the  I 


i'f  to  2,700  pounds  of  1 
made  17  swatl 


'•^^t,  4  rods  by  20  h 


mad 


'ay  to  the  acre  ;  tl 


ivingahurden 


tl'e  halfarrVr;;!;"^  ^^  ^^^  to  eael 


'J'^^^  of  3^  jj,ii 


'"  .19  Uiinutes,  at  a  speed 


;  tlio  niaehino 
Ii,  mowine' 


feet  of  gra 


s  an  Iiour,  cutting    l  14g 


iiiehiding  tu 


'8' 
rn- 


««  a  nnmite,  including  tl 


-^i  I 


"lower,  on  the  same  fiohl 


'0  turniui 


fo(j  square 


feet  lo 
minutes,  or  28G 


'%^  and  Gi  feet  wide,  or  2,145 


lit  a  swath  20  rod 


A 


good 


time  for  rest 


square  feet  in 


raach 


or    shar 


f*  or  330 

square  ihot,  in  7^ 

a  minute,  allowing  no 


uiff  th 


'"0  cut  4x§^  tim 


■Pcuing    the    scythe.     H 


les  as  much  as  tl 


270 


'e  machine  no  time  fbr 


tl 


^  square  feet  a  minute,  or  4A^. 


ere    the 

'«  man  :  or,  allow- 

rest  or   turning,  it  cut 


'6  man  in  the  same  time.     In 


rVff  times  more  th 


t'-mes,  with  the  five-feet  cutter-ba 


tlie  first  inst 


an 


ance.  4A5- 


Mi 


1  ii(T 


any  similar  experiments,  in  differ 


country,  have  come 


results  w 


with 


ere  s 


in 


tjiat  the  above  is  a  iki 


o  nearly  alike  as  to  lead  to  tl 


■cnt  parts  of  the 

my  knowledge,  where  the 

le  conclusion 


situated 
''  The 


1-  calculation  for  lots  similai-ly 


pract 


ic. 


jm  in  cutting  the  grass,"  sav^ 


fc 


■"'  tanner,  "must  be 
27 


an  experienced 


apparent  to  all  who  ha 


ve 


m 


i 


i"y°«*'gw>    '  ^ 


314 


THE     NEW     BUCKEYE 


5f  0  W  E  R . 


land  smooth  enough  to  work  a  niachino  o„  ;   and   in   th' 
eonncH.,on    it    ur.y   W   best    to   .poak    of    t^.e   LZ-^ 
^Hth  the  mower,  as  one    naturally   follows   the   other,    nnl 


ether,   and 


the 


1      about    as    important    in    tiie     operations     of    Invin^ 
-tins.  lo  cut  and  rake  it  into  the  windrow  the  first'^da   ' 


..y-^MH 


iiKl   in    thi.^ 

liorsc-rake 

other,   and 


I 

u 

a 


1^ 


i    good, 
•st  dav. 


KCOXOMV    OP    MACHINE    I.ADOn.  313 

™u„,„,  ,1,0  acml  cost  woulj  var'L,  c,     ",      I  !, 

o  1,  var.v,„,.  a.  the  hunl.n  of  g,-a.ss  <loo.  po,-   0  e   for 
in  l...lg«l  glass  to,,  «.„„|tl  |,a,.,||J  ,lo  '        ""'  '" 

woall!'';."   ""i   "''"'""="  "'■  ''"^-"'S  '■'  <l""e  i„   good 
t^ciii  II  as  nigii  as  twenty  per  cent  " 

„  lilt  (.|.,oadi,ig,  ,8  ave,-y  reaso,iaI,l„  one  sinoo  in 
tl.o  oasos  s,a,od,  „„  allo,va„oe  is  ma.lo  f,„  t,  a'  t  o? 
e.K„ra,,oe  of  ,l,e  ,„o,.  at  tl,o  rate  at  wl.iol,  ,  /"Ld 
111  the  expenmonts  named.  "oixea 

Other  considerations  give  fn,-tl,er  codit  to  the 
machine,  s,„oo  the  grass  was  mown  ho  fe  tim  e 
average  o    good  n,„,vors,  ,vi,ile  it  is  easy   o   eeilt  i? 


!    1 

fll 


31 G 


THE    LESSONS    TAUGHT. 


toiim  and  prico  of  I„l,„,.  „,,  „„,r.  ""'*  "'  ,l^>'^T"ig  tlia 

grout  ant]  clear  guin  to  InvoTi'''''''''^''^^  '^ 

tuto  machinery  whiclu-^ll       f        ''"'  ^''•^'''''  ^^^  ■^"^'•^^'■- 
iiici^  uuitn  will  cut   rrrass  u'«ll   ...  i         •  i, 

"t  a  t„„.>  wi,™  i„i,„,.  i,  ,.„    amZ  f        ''"'"'"^ 

out  paying  „„  exorbitant  ,.   ce  fo,        "'"■"""' -«l'- 
Among  tl,o  important  lessons  taiio-l.t  ,,,  ,„.  ,, 

»-o,.ia.,  in":o„/'::;:T; ";:;:,';;:.'  f"". «-- »: 

tlie  stonos  turnod   out  1,^.1,1     ,"  '  *" '''"fo^o  of 

s.ono  wall,  .,A  tr'u, e'  It?':,";  •'«lr'»°'<'"f 
occupy  u,ucl,  land  which  i,  nowl,"  |,  '!  'i'™''  ""f 
something  for  the  purpose,,   of  e„    i  ",fi  „        m  ""I'"' 


St  of  thoi'r 
»iue  dollars. 
:winug  the 
it  fioonis  to 
-ffow  mucli 
■nils  of  tJio 

use  of  the 
^t  per  acre 
1  unite  ill 
iisider  it  a 

■  to  8ubsti- 
"1  rapidly 
tiiiii,  witli- 
even  sup- 
il'or  to  be 
'ation  in 
'o,   every 

iit  all  by 

'h^,  more 
than  by 

■  the  use 
■'^  on  the 
time  im- 
■^I'ose  of 
-looking 
im,  and 
e  worth 
he  idea 
1"  cattle, 

extent, 
livisioa 
ical  use 
y  great 


THE    AVOOD    MOWEU. 


317 


extent ;  and  many  an  old  wall  wliicli  was  b„nf  f  Pf 
hundred  years  ao,,,  at  n.,.f.,f  i  /'*^^'^  ^'^^  ^^^^^  fi%or  a 

the  purpose  of  g^t  i    -  Sd  of  f "''  T^  ''''^  ^'''^''^'^  ^"^ 
cutting  ud  of  a  surplus  of  rocks  that  en- 


cumbered  the  land,  and  has  comp  f- 

b«ng  ...uovea  and  bu™a°be„ea'th  the  ::!..faeo  "Z  otZ 


i 

S           4 

! 

'.  1 

\!         I 


■1 K      ii. 


)IS 


ADAPTATION    TO    CIRCUJISTA  XCES. 


"IK  i,„a'liMiu  ,ui,l  tl,o   li„i»„.,„iie      Tl„ ,•/  '"° 

;.80,  lK,«x.ve,,  of  „o  ,,„„,i  in,p„  .;„,,",  ,"':,f'.'"- 
fe..co»,„,„l  tl,„t  i,,|,e  proJtio,,;  ;;';",  ;"'?'"■' 
tl.efiol.l  i„  l.re^>kmKtl,oncMx.e,vinclV  „'    ;  ,"''7''  '" 

''";/.  '\"-"  -"'« upon  and  fe;;iii:";,;:t  f  '"""■^ 

|"ad,i„„  i.,  ,|,at  rl,o  stautor  tl  "t  L/i^      l""""'^""' 
being  e„„al,-t|,„  ,„„,„    easily      ,,'"'''.'  'l'"'?'' 

lollei.     ilauy  farmers  liave  ulremly  taken  the  l.inV  I    ^ 
are  preparing-  their  lands  with  reference  to.       • '/ 
u^e  Ufa  mouing  n.achine  "''""  ^"^"'''^ 

cliHhliv'th^^'H"'""^ '^"'   '"•  '"'^'^^   -^''^>I-I'  con. 
V  Wv  of  ?'''""'  ^^'^"  ^^^  '''''^  >■»  ^^  ^^u'  greater 

machine  -Tt  ".''!"'  ^'^  *'^'  introduction  of 

"jacnniei\.     it  is,  neverthe  ess,  true  th-it  .>  ^vlM 

-iLXiii.c  uii  tina  statu  of  cultivation  is 


iiM«i 


er  loses  tlio 
;■,  Hiid  other 
>t'  the  mow- 
one  advan- 
!se  (iivif<it)ii 
y  Jiirord  to 
tii;g'  leaved 

soil. 

use  of  tho 
lier  things 
-niieHlly  it 
I  iii^h  and 

i^iiiiply  ill 
1"  ohstriic- 
to,  hut  in 
I'h'to  and 
■,  !ind  tho 

hint,  and 
me  future 

•h'sh  con- 
!•  greater 
'il)posed. 
DUsly    on 

I  I Token 
'"ith  two 
th  fewer 
'ieipated 
nd  want 
ction  of 

II  prove 
in  good 
lior  ob- 
iiical  to 
itiou  is 


i 


TIME    PER    ACRE.  3^,, 

fittained,  or  at   ]o-\  ■<   fn 
'""»  "n„y,  ,0  |,e  cut  i,"    ,    f      '■'■^■^'  ^;'^'''''"«  -«tc.e,. 

Ai>e.-  n,„ki„,  :„  „t , ;:;  f;;™:;™  ';"■-'-  iht,,.,.; 

do.H.,  wm„„u  ovcM, .,      ;    ;       '  "■'"''■  "•'"■'■''  ™"l.l  I.U 
A«  t„    ,1  *'«'"' "II  "flu  nor  l]i, in- 

A"  to  tl,o  lunvtir  roiMiiiwl  „II  tl,„  ,         . 

P'-ifif-iS  In  UK«t  ct:,  ,t  ;  "'■  '"  '"'ir  "'""  '" 
-fifc'l.t  >vl,ilc.  t|,„v  ,v„,.k  I  !,,:""'"?'"•'■  t-"'«l  ii' 
tlio  testi,„..„3-,  not  cnk  o  V  """■'""^■-     T'"'-  ^ 

eonnnittcos  ,,„,•«,  "  Tot;,,?'"'''- ,  '^"^'  "^  'I'tv'e 

av-"«e  of  ,;,;,„.i,o,. :,  ;r ,"  r  v"'"-; '° "'""' "  <-> 

tlious„nd  po„n,l,.     Tl„v        ',■'-'""*''  "''<""  t"o 
'vo  could  observe   hni'7"""    '"""■*-""'~'"^"  '"i' ■» 

yoi.i-  connnitteo  l,«ve  n  "  Z      ,7  ''"■"/;"  "I"'"""' 

"is  ..l™  the  oDi,M„n     f  "'"'"'"■'■''""I'or.-' 

machiue  tl,.,t  hoZof  ,„!■"""'■"■''"  '""-^^  "-"'  "'^ 

'-  /.iln.l.-od  pound:  ;^,r;V^■  •■'■'•''',"'"""  '" 

-  lolo,  "illi  peate,.  ease     k1  i  ["  v  H  .'i;','"'"'  ""  "- 
Tins  IS  es|.ecfallv  tlio  o-i...  n„      <■      '  '"''^■''''  o'"-'"- 

Much  0  ,»erv„  i„    ,e     "  ,    .         Z  "  '■"'  e'O'm.l. 
of  an  uc,-o  per  Ion,;:.,"    '"i    ^  v"'  ""'' '"  "'o  "'o 
pail-  of  1,0,1^  c     Id"  ':;"'"'■''"'"?• -''°''»."  8-0'' 

r--'"' ---"nrti'nrtrvri' 

"■^  iatma,  and  hence  manj-  farmers 


ii 


;il 


Jfi  \ 


III 


tr^' 


>?l  III 


32D 


PRACTICAL    SUGGESTIONS. 


prefer  the  former  to  tlio  latter.  In  iniiiiy  oases  wliere 
the  mowing  machine  lias  heen  worked  I. v  oxen  thev  ih\l 
us  well  as  liorses,  while  they  did  not  apparent  I  y  suH'er 
from  the  exertion,  even  in  the  hot  weather  of  July. 
This  fact  will  make  it  possible  for  many  to  use  this 
im|)lement  who  eonld  not  otherwise  do  so,  and  its 
udvanta-es  will  thus  he  hrou-ht  within  the  reach  of 
thousands  who  cannot  afford  to  use  horses. 

There  are  some  general  suggestions  fur  heginners  in 

.    the   w^G  of  the  mowing  machine,  most  of  which  are 

allude.l   to  in  the   letters  of  practical   farmers  already 

quoted,  but  which  may  bo  briefly  summed  up  as  fol- 

lows  : 

1st.  See  tliat  the  knives  are  sharp,  and  in  good 
order.  X„  man  w,.uld  think  of  beginning  his  day's 
work  of  mowing  without  having  first  ground  his  scythe 
A  dull  scythe  requires  too  great  an  expenditure  of 
physical  force,  and  the  mower  works  to  great  disadvan- 
tage. The  same  is  true  of  the  machitie.  The  labor  for 
the  team  is  quite  sufKcient,  even  under  the  most  favor- 
able  circumstances,  without  increasing  it  by  ncdect  in 
this  particular.  "^ 

2d.  .<ee  that  every  nut  and  bolt  is  perfectly  tight  • 
the  wear  of  the  machine  will  be  less,  and  it  wilfbe  less 
likely  to  get  out  of  order. 

3d.  Keep  all  the  bearings  well  oiled  with  pure 
sperm  oil:  some  of  them  will  need  an  application  of  it 
every  ten  or  fifteen  minutes. 

4th.  Take  the  field  lengthwise,  and  keep  straight 
forward,  at  a  regular,  steady  pace,  without  too  great 
haste,  which  would  fret  and  worry  the  team.  An  acre 
per  hour  is  fast  enough  ordinarily,  and  the  team 
will  do  that  without  over-urging,  if  the  driver  be 
skilful. 

Other  things,  of  minor  importance,  will  suggest  them- 


solves  amM-Hli((Iopnict,Vo     HmMV  • 

"»t  to  have  ^,,eien  0  a,       ,;,,:      ''  ''^  ^'■^^^^^"'"•>'  ""Port- 

"'"^'"4);  ibr,  if  proper    . a.  .r  '  '"^''""'  "'• '^  ^'''H 

^-•'^'"t  -study  of  all  its  pun      '  r;  '        ''■  ^'"  ^^''^"^  *^'  -'"i- 

♦••M-thc,..  M,,.^.  will  ; ;"  r"*  '/""^^'^  '■"  I-^^'"^'  it 

^'V^-0   new  i.apl.,ne,.t   ,s    liall    ,•"'?' ""^''^  ^'^  ^^''ioh 
pre.sos  ami  thing,  go  u-,,.ng.       '""'^'""'^^'''.V  when  ti,nu 

tl'"t  „n.v  „mn  win,  l,a.  L  od  '",  /  '■'  "'"'  "  '^  '■'"■" 

pmclice,  wl,c.„  v„„„„  eve    t,  '"'"  """  "'<'"   >■/ 

"» ..-i,i„„  „.eVo .,':.:,; Lr;",::; "?'  "■""-■■ « 

'■"■mo,,  of   „,,,i„,,,   c.a,«oi,y  "»;',«"""■'  I'""  ""•'■ 
WOli-  It  succosstillly.  "^    •■"'""    I"'""    to 

»t  'iHt  lias  been  sair)  nf  *l 

-'«' «!".!  foi-oo  .0  til"  r.  ;ir.";"'«  '":-'■"-'  "I'l-ii... 

eo^';-xr:,:;:",;':^-j*-;;'-'.'«Ho.. ,,„„.. 

7"-o'.-e,  of  „a„  are  verv  eini  ^  ,  '.V"™"  '"""■    ''"""' 
»lK)iild  be  „l|„„.e<l  to  be,  „m     ■  "'  °"''  '■""'  ">'>ei- 

i-we  .0  «pi.„„t  ill  lisuZiTtirr  V''''""' ''  '■">■ 

Ascolored,  if  „M„,ve,l  to  J,.      '  '"">'  '"  ''«-"'"e 

'"■"■estMiK  bv  tlie   ol,    „e    1  r        '^^     '^'"'  "■"■'-•  "f 


very  large  quantities  of 
annually   Jost,   from    tl 


'on  of  th 


our  most  valna!)!* 


le  reaper, 
'5'ains  U'ere 


'"    '">r.o-il.ility   of   harvesting 


i: 

i; 


■   t 

mi  ^ 


\\h:;^m 


iilw. 


322 


THE    SICKLE.  —  THE    REAPER. 


them  properly  and  in  time.  It  is  not  too  much  to  ?nv 
that  the  successful  introduction  of  the  reaper  into  our 
g-rain-lields  has  added  many  niilHons  of  dollars  to  the 
value  of  our  annual  harvest,  not  only  by  enabling  us  to 
secure  the  whole  idoduct  of  all  that  was  before  planted, 
but  also  by  making  it  possible  lor  the  ihrmer  to  increase 
the  area  of  his  cultivated  iields,  with  a  certainty  of 
being  able  to  gather  in  his  whole  crop. 

The  sickle  is  undoubtedly  as  old  as  the  days  of  Tubal 
('ain,  and  was  almost  universally  used  tilf  within  the 
memory  of  men  still  living.  No  one,  who  has  had  a 
jiractical  experience  of  its  use,  can  fail  to  appreciate 
the  immense  saving  of  slow  and  wearisome  hand 
labor  by  the  use  oi"  the  reaper. 

The  reaper  is  no  new  thing  in  point  of  fact.  It 
would,  indeed,  have  been  an  astonishing  evidence  of 
stu])idity  on  the  part  of  the  ancients,  who  relied  mainly 
upon  wheat  and  the  other  small  grains,  had  they  not,  at 
least,  tried  to  replace  the  sickle  by  something  better. 
This  they  did.  They  were  accustomed  to  use  a  simple 
reaper  in  France,  a  few  years  after  Christ  ;  for  Pliny 
asserts  that  the  inhabitants  of  that  country  fixed  a 
series  of  km'ves  into  the  tail-end  of  a  cart,  and  this, 
being  propelled  through  the  grain,  clii^ped  oif  the  ears 
or  heads,  and  thus  it  was  harvested. 

In  England  the  importance  of  adopting  some  method 
to  shorten  the  labor  of  harvesting  grain  was  early  seen, 
and  efforts  were  made  to  accomplish  this  end  at  tlie 
close  of  the  last,  and  the  beginning, of  this  century. 
The  first  patent  granted  for  a  reaping  machine  was  that 
to  Boyce,  of  London,  in  1799.  Then  followed  the 
patent  of  Meares  in  1800,  that  of  Plucknett  in  1805, 
and  that  of  Gumming  in  1811,  clearly  foreshadowing 
some  of  the  useful  improvements  of  subsequent  patents. 
Smith,  of  Deanston,  Scotland,  invented  a  machine  in 


THEATRICAL    EXPERIMENT.  303 

1812,  H'l.icI,  With  some  improvement.,  worked  succe.s- 
nh.  though   ,t  ha.i   only  a  local   reputation   till    18  J - 

ocictj.     ihe  next  model  was  produced  bv  Dohh.   „„ 
l-estao-eof  the  Birming-ham  theatre,  in  18U     T  '     'u 
'>'"'^   posted   in   the  streets  stated  tL^  i\  \ 

-fbrthe'M^enefitoflr    t       t-^::r;7-^^ 
spectfnlly  infbnus  his  friends  and  th^  puhlt  ^      'l  "" 
n^.nvented  a  macldne  to  expedite  tl^::;;;^^^^^^^^ 

'cire  to  g.\e  it  a  general   mspection   in  the  field  wifl, 
-fety,  he  ,s  HKluced  to  take  advantage  of  ds  t       t 
profession,  an<l  make  it  known  to  his  friends  11 

been  anxious  to  see  it,  through  that  m^^^^^^ 

the  8(iipe  «mII  in,  plantd  „,itli  wliuit  fl,,)  .1  , 

l-c„t«„,l  g-atl,eLl  ,vl,erc        g™      '    |      ,    ," """ 

-o,ke,I  exacly  a»    in    „,„  fi„,|."    't    '  Z^T 

-na^ed  i,.  »„,,«,.,;,.  oi«o'„ri,y' ".•,,.    -  ^irF™," 
in   I851,wlrL-u  (lie  success  of  the   4i,»,-;,..,„  i 

again  sti,n„late.l  the  invent,!,-  „  •^"""'  '"  "»clM„es 
competitor.  Previous  „«,,p''';r  '""'""^  ""  " 
"ever  been  in  gen  n  n°  I  f "" "  ,"""'''"'«  ''"'" 
extent  in  the  neiwS L'T'  f,?"-'''  '"«'  *»  ^  ''''"'e^l 

reapmg  in  the  field  "'mcult  to  use  for 

a  mach^rih- -tvT'  '^'"'^"^^''  °'  '^'^^^'^"^'  >--^-' 
of  lialtimore,  obtained  a  patent  on  ; 


I    ! 
I  I 


iH 


m 


iaper, 


ich 


has 


324 


AMERICAN    REAPERS    I  xV     FRANCE. 


not  only  been  extensively  and  successfullv  used,  from 
tluit  time  to  this,  through  the  Western  StutJs,  luu  uhieh 
hus  iurnislied  the  basis  I'or  the  most  successlul  models 
in  tins  country,  among  tiie  most  noted  of  which  are 
those  of  MeCorn.ick,  of  Virginia,  Ketchum,  of  New 
loik,  and  Manny  and  Atkins,  ofllh'nois. 

The  American  reaping  machines,  some  of  which  have 
been  extc.nsively  used  lor  the  last  twenty  years,  have  a 
world-aide  reputation,  and  a  generally-acknowledged 
superiority,  and  the  credit  of  having  made  the  prin- 
c.ple  which  the  English  and  Scotch  had  invented  prac 
t.ca  ly  uselul  umloubtedly  belongs  to  our  ingenious 
mechanics. 

It  is  not  my  province  to  specify  which  of  the  machines 
lately  patented  is,  on  the  whole,  the  best,  or  to  point 
out  the  parts  in  which  each  excels  the  others.  Every 
tarmer  has  the  means,  in  the  reports  of  the  various  com- 
nnttees  appointed  to  determine  the  relative  merits  of 
the  machnies  now  in  use,  of  forming  a  tolerably  correct 
conclusion  ,n  regard  to  these  matters.  The  trial  ^x^■^^^ 
um^rthe  direction  of  the  Industrial  Exhibition  at  Paris 
IS  still  fresh  in  the  minds  of  many. 

This  took  place  on  a  held  of  oats,  about  fortv  miles 
f  om  the  city,  eac  i  machine  having  about  one  acre  to    , 
nn.     ihree   machines  were  entered  for  the  first  trial 
cviie  American,  one  English,  and  a  third  from  Algiers,' 
all  at  the  same  time  raking  as  well  as  cutting      The 
American  machine  did  its  work  in  twenty-two  minutes, 
the  Lnghsh  .',  sixty-six,  the  Algerian  in  seventv-two. 
A    a  subsequent  trial  on  the  same  piece,  when' three 
other  patents  were  entered,  of  American,  English,  and 
French  manufacture,  respectively,  the  American  machine 
cu  Its  acre  m  twent^v'-two  minutes,  while  the  two  others 
tailed.    The  successful  competitor  on  this  occasion  "did 
Its  work  m  the  most  exquisite  manner,"  says  a  French 


•  used,  from 
s,  but  which 
isful  models 
which  ;ire 
111,  ol'  New 

which  have 
jars,  have  a 
iiiowledged 

0  tlie  prin- 
eiited  prac- 

ingenious 

lemacliines 
r  to  point 
I's.  Eveiy 
rious  com- 
merits  of 
)ly  correct 
trial  jiia  '.3 
)n  at  Paris 

orty  miles 
10  acre  to 
first  trial, 

1  Algiers, 
ng.  The 
)  minutes, 
enty-two. 
len  three 
glisli,  and 
1  machine 
vo  others 
?ion  "did 
a  French 


MATERIALS    USED. 


325 


nio.st  gloriously."  '•     ^^  i^nished   its  ].iece 

'J'^Je  contest  was  fimll^r 
--confined  to  tl.ree  ^Cj^^^'  ""l™   "■"»  , 
01  these  now  crave  n.,f   i  '         '^  American.     0„b 

the  pri^e.  ^'"'  ""''  '^^^^^^'^^^  but  two  to  strive  for 

i;i'o  machines  were  afterw.rrJ. 
e;vs  uito  mowers,  one  makgThtc  ."""""'  ''""^  ''^^P" 
t'le  other  in  twenty.     Both,     t         '^''  '"  ""«  ""'""te 
astonishment  and  satis^   on"  "??'  '''''  ''^'^  *«  the' 
•Y^^etators,  and  the  iuror    t  ^         ,         ''^'  ^^""^"ourse  of 
t''^''"'-  enthusiasm,   bu      ',,'''''  '""'•'  ""^  restrain 

<^o--'''  while  th;XXn:^ 
^^^M'er,  crying  out,   ''  Tint's    I  7'  '''^'  -^•"^''•'-" 

machine!"  .^11  'the  k  -eV  "  "'""^T'  ''''' '^  t'- 
F'-o"ch  journal,  ^<we  a  e  frl'  t  ^'"  '''  ''^f'^''^  "^'  '^ 
S-'onously  won  bv  Imerict  •  T"/'^^^^'  ''^^^'^  '-^-' 
-an'-ot   be   looked   up'rw   h',-"rl'''''^  achievement 

t  '^^'-e  is  a  difference  of  on  nion  .r      '"/'"  1^'  ^''^   ^^^^t^''. 
«''-M  bo  of  wood  or  of  To"     T  "  r  ''"  ^■'•'^•"^ 

^<"^'m.s  to  be  that  for  all  nr,.       ,       '  '""'^''^  ^'^'  «P''""on 

:'"'"<^  extent,  but  not  sufficient/  T       I     ''"  ""'^'^  ^^' 
'"  ""  eases.     B„t   th.t  f  "       .  ^''''  ^"  '^'^  adoption 

P'ements  are  eo  si     ;  j  ':,"'ti7'V^^'  "•'"■^'''  ^''^^  '- 
^^-•e  generallv  be       t     L  '        .    '        '^'""'  ^''"'  ^'*^^' 


apprirenti 


'e  machines  have  b 


•iiM';  renr  V   nf  .>  »^-^  i-  imvu  uee 


28 


en  made  of  .teel,  and  in  the 


'oen  nifide. 
should, 
niost  per- 


3'2{] 


HEIGHT    OF    CUTTING    GRASS. 


ioL't  munnor.  A  largo  proportion  of  the  accidents  ^vhicli 
occur  unse  iVoni  the  I.reaking-  of  bolts  and  fingers 
lliesc,  though  ai-parently  trilles,  cause  not  a  little  an- 
noyance aii.l  interruption.  Accidents  will  hapj)en,  it  is 
true,  even  with  the  common  scythe;  but  those  refurred 
to  are.  ioi-  the  most  i)art,  such  as  a  more  careful  con- 
struction would  prevent. 

The  manufacturer,  who,  for  the  sake  of  a  trifling 
saving,  slights  his  work  on  u  machine  newlv  intro- 
duced, so  as  thereby  to  retard  its  introduction,  and 
create  a  want  of  confi.lence  in  the  machine  itself,  must 
nideed  l^e  blind  to  his  own  interest,  while  he  both  strikes 
a  blow  at  his  reputation,  and,  what  is  of  infinitely  greater 
consc(juence,  delays  and  retards  the  whole  j.rogress  of 
agriculture. 

With  respect  to  the  height  from  the  ground  at  which 
It  IS  best  to  cut  grass,  the  practice  and  the  opinions  of 
ariners  differ  widely;  for,  while  the  answers  from  about 
Imlf  of  the  towns  say  that  farmers  generallv  cut  as  close 
as  possil)Ie,  the  replies  from  others  vary  from  four  inches 
to  one-half  inch.     Thus,  forty-four  f irmers   return,  -  as 
close  as  possible  ;  "  fourteen   others,  "  dose    or  very 
close  ;  "  sixteen  others,  "  from  two  and  a  half  to  three 
niches    high;"    ten   say  "two  inches    high;"  twentv- 
three  say  "from   one   to  two  inches;"  and  one  savs 
"fourinches;"  while  some  say,  "it  might  be  cut  too 
close, '  or  "close  cutting  is  inju/ious,"  or  "most  people 
cut  too  low,"  an<l  many  say,  "close  as  convenient,"  and 
this  is  the  most  common  practice. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  deduce  anv  general  rule  from 
the  replies  to  the  question,  "At  what  height  from  the 
ground  do  you  prefer  to  have  your  grass  cut,  and 
why  !  One  farmer,  of  great  experience  and  close 
observation,  says  :  "I  should  prefer  to  have  my  grass 
cut  high  enough  to  protect  the  roots  from  the  hot  '.un 


PRACTICAL    STATEMENTS. 


lonts  ^\•hk■h 
11(1  fiiig'ers. 
a  little  aii- 
appeii,  it  is 
so  i'c'leiT('(l 
iucliil  cun- 


a  trifling 
wly  intro- 
ction,  jiiid 
tself,  must 
cth  strikes 
o'ly  greater 
rogress  of 

1  at  which 
I)iijioris  of 
rem  al)out 
it  as  close 
Mir  inches 
Hurn,  ■'  as 
,  or  very 
to  three 
'   twenty- 
one  says 
e  cut  too 
st  people 
eut,"  and 

rule  from 
from  the 
cut,  and 
nd  close 
my  grass 
hot  Puii. 


327 


i>''z:;M::":'  '■"■'-'  -»■'*  ^''^'^  %  -«,•„,  *«, 

V  "'t,-'   or  my   teacher  to  this  i^\)\^,-t  ■  .  \      •     i 
t'-  bottom  is  worth  two  at  the  t"p  '    " ' !   ^^    ^      "' 
your  wages  hehind  you 'Ac      Pn   ^  i.    *         '^''^ /^^Ving 
^^'^■'ither,  on  a  drv  snil  /»--'''ly,ui  very  hot,  dry 

^^tooc/osJ  ,4  :'brrf^^^ 

J'^trn.,  even  tl  en      S'.  ''"^^  '"^'  '^'P'-ehend  any 

grass  cut  as    h    e       ;     '  ^"'''''"'^  ''"'^  ^  I"-^''^^  *«  i'-vo 
^.-''uL::r::;;-;-;-^>-anhe;|     Another 

cut  close,  having  an   hlcn   t  i,       .  "  "  '"  '^^^"" 

n'cather  whirh   oft  ii         '         '  '"''  ''""  '"^^  ^^T 

j^-anuntavL;ir;nfl^::::;:r:::;?j;r"^^''" 

''TlK.heio.|/f'aM.  /''^  '""  '^  boneficial."- 

g.-ass/'  ^  V  "n    :  ^"'rl  !'  "'''^''  '^  ^^  ^'-^  ^o  cut 

-son,t,i;:oirinrrtlfT'''^^'^''''^ 

n-ist  ground,  should  be  c.U  'sc^'low  "/';  v^:  """T  "' 
^-on,  as  it  will  d„  to  cut  it  in  •.  I   T  ■'  '''">'  '^'^- 

grasses  I  like  to  lm^^  cut  with  T""'-  ''^''^  "'^^"'•'^' 
'"^■''^'«  of  the  grmd  (,;;"•;' *^^'°  '""''^''Hlf 
g-sesdonot,Sl,^,:^J^;;^^of.dtivated 

;:^;::;ri::^^"^^^---ont^:t,^^^^ 

One  of  the  most  ohservino-  f.rmov.   •     .. 


th 


e  .-itmosphore,  as   1   I 


'1  croj)s  are  benefited  from  t! 


lave 


'<^  •■nnmonia  in 


"0  doubt  they  are,  judg 


ino- 


328 


TOP-DRESSINO     THE    STUBBLE. 


iugh  will  k.e,,  ,J   ^^^M'tU^'TT'''"""'"^' 

...;  :::t:ir;::v7  °',^''-''''"-'«  ""'-'''^"'v 

ii"lno(ln,toiy  aftcT  I  cut  ,  .  P     '   r'     "'"-■'«  I*"H"'»» 
start  aoaiii     vnmo-JiM^oIv       T   i  i^"  "'J,  it  will 

vaw'r;  .":;'„ /"•"™"7  "•>  'l"«  point   is  somewhat  at 
^.■l.r,lm;.  I  „t   many  liave  noticed  the   ininry  i„/|icted 

;  h;;!'";:;'  ■ ,  'z'rr'"'  •"  "■■■'•  -■"'-•.  ^..""'i.^. 

pirnaps,  to  establ.sl,  the  principle  alluded  to  on  n  m-e 
«'l'"g  page.  Most  concur  i,!  saving  that  tl  e  C 
grasses  can  be  cnt  lower  with  safotj-  ptrticn  a  ^  if  he 
ason  be  not  too  dry.  }[„cl,  und.lnbtedly,  der  o,^d! 
upon  the  sod  and  the  season.  '  ""I'"""' 


■^'^^itoji, 


e,  the  other 
^011)0  Jeaves 
-  two  ineiies 
f'ut  will  be 
IS  of  life." 
nimediately 
il  wlien  this 
the  surface. 

il  top-dlTss 

save  aJI  tJje 
•om  two  to 
loots.  I  do 
I  intend  to 
and  never 

cut  ratlier 
s  obtained, 
drj,  it  will 

cut  high, 
tlie  roots ; 

■  f  for  pro- 
!  prefer  a 
^'  mud  for 
il,  should 
'ol  waste. 
-Il,  late  in 

lewhat  at 

■  inflicted 
^ufJic-ient, 
on  a  pre- 
the  finer 
I'ly  if  the 
depends 


CHAPTER    X. 

CURING    AND    SECURING    HAY. 

n.I^.tXu:rort£r^^^^=-^^^'-^^"  develop. 

i'i.'-tpercent:;::f!:;rt;::l^'::r""'"^^ 

^"M-H.-,  and  g.„n  ;  and  that  thesrw   i    ;,         ^  ■''^^'■'^'^' 
couipounds,  then  also  most   d.n;  '^'trog-enou. 

value   as    furnishino.   tlo        t  ''^>  ^^^'^  ^^'  greatest 

-od,  fibre  and";:-,:;:  ::Z't:f  r'^^''  '-''^ 

g'Ving  bulk  to  the  food  are  i       1   n    ^     ""Portant  as 
tious.     We  have  seen  also  th"^'  ^"^^'  ^'''''  ''"^''i- 
the  flowering  to  til  Hhm.-' !•"/'''  ''■^^'"'^'°"  ^'-"'n 
-'gar,  ^e.,  a;;  grlt.;^^^^  S^^ 
'n  which  state  they  Dossn  J  '"^"^  '''^^"'Iv  ^^^'-e, 

are,  of  course,  of  mU^X^'n'-^''^ '^  ^-^'>^-,  and 
fectlywell  established  by  "refu?  "'' "''"''^  '^  f^^ 
••ate  analysis,  confirmed,lr2e  /'I!'"":"^"^^  ^^^'^"■ 
practice,  is  of  great  im.  orf  J  ^.    ?''"'  ^'^  '^^e^^ip;eut 

^'«"  -^  -hich  mos  ofT  eX":  "l"'"'""^^  '''  --''- 
^n.t,  and  our  pract  ce  s  n  h  '.^'''^'"^^'^ '^''^''''^  '^^ 
with  it.  ^         "^  '"  P'^^^y   ""'f'onnly   consistent 

'-"tinaconditi^j^;r: :;:?  'v^'r^^'^'^-- 
t-nsitionofsugar,^e.,i:L    ;t;:  ',:r^  '^^^-  ^'- 

wdl  even  then  be  some  f^.^^  ^'^'^^'""^'"^^"ced. 

the  action  of  heat  IIT        /     "'«'^''  ^"^^  ^'^t'"'^'' 
not  heat  and  moisture,  e.specially  if  the 

(320) 


th 
f 


i'.'» 


330 


OVER-DRYING    HAY. 


'i   a 


grass  ,s  expose.!  to  the  rain  in  tiie  process  of  furinrr 
'iiHl  I.gnefaction,  or  dianf.-e  to  woo.ly  iihr.,  takes  place' 
o  c-onsuleraMe  extent,  dependent,  of   curse,  on  tl„. 
lei.gth  of  tnne  it  is   exposed  to  air  and  light:  so  that 
grass  cured  with  the  least  exposure  to  the  searching 
s.lt.ng   wnuls,  and    the    scorching-    sunshine,  is,   othe; 
things   be.ng  e.p.al,  more   nutritions  than  grass  cured 
slou-r  and  longer  exposed,  however  fine  the  weather 
M.ay  t.e      In.  other  words,  grass  over-cured,  in  the  pro- 
ress  of  hay-makuig-   contains  more  useless  woodv  fil.re 
and    less  nutritive  .p.alities  than  grass  cured  nu,re  has- 
tily, and  housed  beiore  being  dried  to  a  crisp.     There 
••an  be  no  doubt  which  of  the  two  would  be  most  pal- 
atal, eo  the  annual.     .Son.o  loss  of  nutritive  elements 
n.ust,  therefore,  take   place   in   the   process   of  curinjr 
however  perfect  it  may  be  ;  and  the  true  art  of  hav-mak- 
uig  consists  „j  curing  the  grass  just  up  to  the  p^int  at 
which  It  will  do  to  put  it  into  the  barn,  and  no  more,  in 
order  to  arrest  the  loss  at  the  earliest  possible  moment 
And  this  fact  of  the  loss  of  sugar  and  starch,  or  of 
their  transformation  into  woody  fibre,  by  too  long  ex- 
posure to  the  sun  and  wind,  I  think  equally  well  estab- 
lished  as  that  any  transformation  at  all  takes  place,  and 
Hs  equally  suggestive. 

But  on  this  point  far  greater  difference  of  opinion 
exists  among  practical  farmers,  some  considering  on.- 
good  hay-day  sufficient,  while  others  require  two,  and 
sometimes  three,  as  if  it  were  not  possible  to  dry  it  too 
much.     Our  practice  in  this  respect  is,  1  believe,  better 
than  It  used  to  be  twenty  years  ago.     xAIost  farmers  now 
think  that  grass  can  be  dried  too  much,  as  well  as  too 
little,  and  that  the  injury  and  loss  in  the  crop  is  equally 
great  from  over-curing  as  from  housing  green.     A  ])rac' 
tical  farmer  says:    "One  good  hay-day  is  sufficient  to 
dry  Timothy,  redtop,  or  wet  meadow.     I  think  farmers 


IL 


^s  of  furiii^r^ 
.  takes  place 
irse,  oil  tli(( 
y'lit;  so  that 
a  searcliiiij^, 
e,  is,  otlier 
grass  cured 
the  weather 

in  the  pro- 
woody  fibre 
1  more  has- 
isp.  There 
e  most  pai- 
■0  elements 

of"  curing, 
jf  liay-niak- 
lie  point  at 
110  more,  iu 
le  moment, 
roll,  or  of 
o  long  ex- 
well  estab- 

place,  and 

of  opinion 
lering  one 
13  two,  and 
dry  it  too 
jve,  better 
•niers  now 
>'ell  as  too 
is  equally 
.  A  prac- 
iHcient  to 
k  farmers 


PRACTICAL    EXPERIENCE. 


331 

-ell  i,.  the  mow      I  '  ;'  "'°"f /"  '"-  "  k-1. 

wl,ici,  ™„.tit„te  it,  valuJ.-'  '"  '""'■''  J""-^. 

Tliis  ]«  iii  arcordiuicc!  will,  il,„  „,.„ .  • 

"-ko  „„„  i„j.  „,„„  ,,..j,,y,  i';  ,.,t^     ,""""  '" 

gla.'<'<,it  is  liij,|ilv  ini.)o,(„,.  ,l    .  ,,  '">'  ''"'"  ""7 

'■'"*•"  i»  i.»av,.,  ,;,„„ i,. „iti„;  ;:?■;.'";■''%  "  "-* 

miiriMi.a  will  be  ™in,..i  l„.  .,  ■*'  "  '^'"  '°  "'e 

"■a.™.     If  tl,i  Jilt         ^"'"^■'"■'■■''  ■-■-"^•l--»  wiMie  it  is 

g;".,g  ,t  mud,  atten,i.,n,_tl,e  "aBln    ,    ^  ""' 

died,  and  it  is  fit  f„,.  t|,„     '         .1,  '"P  '''".  ''»'-'"ni»  oaii- 

tl-  "ii-  on  tl,e  second  da,  bviM"""  ■'"«""-■ ''"■'•'» 
benefit.  ^W,en  carted  t  I's^L'  "S"  '"  «^^^'"'"' 
'lead  iij,„,  it  ,vill  be  ivitl,,-  ,.  ''  '"""'"'  ""'^ss 

much  of  its  valuable  .malily  '"  "'"  ''"^  ''"»  '"»' 

.a;?'f  t,::'::'rf:„:^v:;'i''''-'-'""''  ^^■^"- ''  '-"^ 

t>«  juices,  and  the  stem  bTcol    h'"  riT!  '""'  ""' 
life  of  the  hav  is  ocne  to  rr"  '""^  l"-'ttle,-the 

lioldtoonringhayin^^eltV'"''^  '"  "-  «'-de;  I 


f 


tj  i' 


332 


WHAT    FARMERS    SAY. 


■n'u  tli6  ban.  as  m-^^u  „  1    ','""'«''*."'«"  b'ot  it 

■;-;',""■ '  i""  i.^0  tie  ",;,';;i  e  ;"f:;::.  ■:■ ,;:;'" 

weather  is  suitable  for  curing  it."  '      *''" 

Another  writes,  savintr-    '<  If  fi.«  .i 

>"i.l  turn  over  tl,o  sw,(l,«     ="",'""  ">  ""s  lorenoon 

t"o  "^-xt .I...  I :.:::'t"Lt::t'^r;ct:v''  *''" ;" 

«alt  to  tl,o  load  w  ifp  '„  oXo      .  IT  -r  '  l","  '''""''  "^ 
*<-•'■■"    Another  say,  ■  ''T'  .^, '^  ;"'"  '    "'"  >'"  'I'o  bot- 

"om  on  a  good  liavdav  in  tr  '       '"^' '"  ""-'  ^'°^ 

for  (ho  barf    f  rZl  t^H    .       ,    ''''"°°'''  »"''  i'  i''  «' 

-n,  by  two  or  tuZ  o'clo  k  r,h,5':r  *^™-'  '"  •"" 
»-"0  day.  Much  hay  ij  spoi  ed  bv  f  T  "!  "'" 
much."  '        spoiled  by  benig  dnod   too 

idryiess„:?,o:r'y .';::;  ^i^r '"""  '^^-''^y- 

on  it,  there  is  little  dmior  „f  i     ,        ?  '"  "°  "'"''^''I'e 

Ho  cut.  hi,  ,wal    l,:Xfo  e  it'n  :;'*"  """i' '»  """"'■" 
quite  green  and  h-t.  I,;        ,  '"'''"  """^  '''''"o  '*  is 

fu"rive,;;:i/rr^^:erzr:i""'^^^ 

poen  color,  and  think,  it  „;,!  ^  ™«  ^  th..,r  deep 
longer  an.l  better,  if  cut  ■>!  th.  ^  !"  ''■"""  "•"* 
enced  ftr,„er  ,,y:  .T  t'^tTv     T'"'  '''^''"■ 

"-i:;^fc£rff--^?^^ 


off  spread  it 
if  I  possibly 
,  then  get  it 
ii^^vo  it  Jiurt. 
^yi  it.  Wet 
is  cut,  if  the 

ler  is  good 
lie  Ibrunoon 
tlio  grass  is 
'e  I'orenoon 
ti'id  get  in 
ay  as  much 
3  quarts  of 
>o  the  bet- 
i  the  blos- 
id  it  is  fit 
nd  care  is 
I'ass  to  the 
on  of  the 
dried   too 

a  sensible 
hay-day. 
moisture 
s  wilted." 
'hile  it  is 
1  they  are 
^'ir  deep 
Tie  stock 
r  experi- 
s  to  cut 
It  evenly 
,  and  get 
is  good. 


THlIiTY    YEARS'    E\'PPp,pm. 

«"t,  if  the  grass  is  vervhe-ivx.   t      .  •    • 
"••«''^     I  consider  it  m a^  .  '  ^  ^"^  ''  "'^"  ^«^-k«  over 
"•  ''-tt  in  the  n.o^v.     To  ^Tt  di  v''°h  '"  ^''■^'  *^^"""^^''  ""t 
»"  the  hay."  ^'^ '''>*^'"  ^''^'"  t''i«  i«  an  injury 

^»«  of  ih^  ,„^,t  extensive   .nd  .  • 

feeders  m  ^^o^v  Enghuul    i  ,^.   \      ,'•'^'^'''^^"^'^(1   stock- 
I"^"'er  to  cut  all  Kn.W  sh  or  ^     l^     "''    ''""'^''''  ^^'^  ••  ''  I 

^•'-•er  at  the  san.e  time  ..'e  t  i"-^'   ''"^^^'''>'  -"' 

nence  has  convinced  me  th at    .  '""^'  y'''''^'  ^^'Pe- 

^'-  -  or  just  before  "on  Z  IT""'  ''  ^''^  '^^^^ 

^•"«'«  f,nve   n,ore  and   better     i  k        ^T'"  ~~  "''"  "'"'^'« 
«\ore  fat  on  animals  for  t  e    ,"f^,""^   ^.•""^'''  ^^''"  Put 
-^  -eal  per  day,  than     id^    '  f  I  "'  T''  ''"•■  'l-'"^-^ 
^vell   secured   from    the    hW   '      r',  ''  "'"■''  "''^'^   ''"V 
August.     Tlut  vviJl  g  :  ?  :  .:^  •'■;'-^'  ^'^   ^'-  f-'-.^t  o 
t"-/o  grow,  and  it  t^  b^cut  tl  H  :"'*'  l^'^'""  -'^'^^ 
or  the   first  week  in   ^eptemt        I      '""'^ '"  ^^"S"'^*. 
erop  of  fall  feci,  which  mo  1'  "'"''  ^^'^'^  ^''^"  ^e  a 

n^owmg,  is  very  valuable.     Sn   the^'ot  ?    ?''  ,'^'  ^^^'>^ 
^•'•^^-s  ,s  cut  late,  the  hay  is  no    o  ^  nn     ' ,''"''  '^  ^'^« 
•«  mc-e  nothing.     Everv   f^rm      V     ''  ^"^  ^''''^  ^'^^^d 
i^'^n.its  that  the  hay  c,It  4r  I'rf.        "^^.  '^'^^"-""tance 
^^^->  unless  it  be  tho  e  t  Jt  •  T.'^'T^''  *"  ^''^^^  ^'"^ 

'•«y;  even  that  clasrmu  1 1  .  •  ".  '  '''^'■' °^' ^^^^''"^ 
-op  by  Ute  cutting.  Sn  .  b^\  '"  ^  ''  "'""^'^^  ^^  ^'-i^ 
the  difference  between  eal/>'^' ""' ^''' ^^^^'^^^ 
'•enl  difference  is  oTtentime'v  f '  '"'  ^^^^ '  ^^'''^^  ^hc 
^on.  Working  horse^S  TntyV^'^  ''''''  ''- 
condition  with  half  the  ^rain  L.  J.  ^^^  ^^  ^^^te,- 
hay."  ^'^'«  ^hen  fed  upon  early-cut 

""^  ^f-- ''  i»  -...-nod  ovo,.  bo.;:o,?:„^':s  z 


"■■■msmr 


334 


THE     PREVAH.INT,     mACTICR, 


!  ) 


ii* 


nil 


I  !  I: 


o'clock  in  the  iit'tcnioon,  wliile  still  wuitn,  untl  before 
tli(»  evenitif:;  (low  i'a\U  it  is  piit  into  cocks.  It  is  spread 
tiiiH  liiincil  tlic  next  inorning,  and  at  one  o'clock  is 
ready  i'or  tlio  barn.  I  cannot  toll,  on  paper,  tlio  precise 
|»oiiit  of  dryness  at  which  hay  siiould  be  housed  ;  but 
with  my  hands,  eyes,  and  nose,  1  can  judj:,e  when  it  is 
dry  enough  not  to  hurt  in  the  mow,  and  not  so  dry  as 
to  crumble,  or  to  have  lost  any  more  of  its  virtues  than 
necessary.  The  less  drying  the  better,  if  it  does  not 
injure  in  the  mow."  Another  jjractical  farnier  says :  "I 
|)rel'er  two  days,  but  want  to  have  it  lay  thick  together, 
and  stirred  often  the  r;rst  day,  and  but  little  the  second. 
In  this  way  the  hay  retains  more  of  the  juices,  smells 
sweeter,  looks  greener,  and  the  cattle  like  it  much  better. 
Hay  sluudd  be  cured  so  that  it  will  not  heat  in  the  mow, 
and  no  more."'  Another  says :  "  Hay  may  generally  be 
ilried  enough  in  one  good  hay-day,  with  proper  care,  to 
be  left  over  niglit  in  the  cock,  and  carried  to  the  barn 
the  next  afternoon  Avithout  spreading.  Hay  may  be 
dried  too  much,  as  well  as  too  little."  "Timothy  and 
redto]),"  says  another,  "  carefully  spread  as  soon  as  the 
ground  between  the  swaths  is  dry,  and,  if  heavy,  turned 
about  noon,  will  dry  sufficiently  in  one  day,  if  a  clear 
one,  to  be  put  into  the  barn  before  sunset.  I  believe 
many  dry  their  hay  too  much.  Never  dry  it  so  as  to 
make  it  brittle  when  twisted  in  the  hand." 

These,  and  many  other  extracts  of  a  similar  import, 
which  might  be  given  did  space  permit,  indicate,  with 
sufficient  distinctness,  the  prevailing  practice  among 
the  best  farmers  :  but,  as  constantly  intinrated,  it  is  very 
common  to  find  hay  dried  far  too  much.  Every  flirmer 
is  aware  of  the  importance  of  keeping  his  grass  and 
hay  as  free  from  dew  and  water  as  possible.  An  expos- 
ure  to  rain  washes  out  much  of  the  soluble  constitu- 
ents of  the  grass,  leaving  a  useless,  brittle,  woody  fibre. 


I 


and  bcf'oro 
It  in  sproiul 
o'clock  irt 
tliu  preciHt! 
ousi'd  ;  hut 
;  when  it  is 
>t  s»()  dry  us 
irtiics  tluiii 
it  does  not 


T  Sll}> 


I 


k  together, 
the  second, 
ices,  smells 
mch  better, 
n  the  mow, 
cnerally  ho 
per  care,  to 
to  the  barn 
ay  may  be 
imotliy  and 
soon  as  the 
tivy,  turned 
',  if  a  clear 
I  believe 
it  so  as  to 

ilar  import, 
licate,  with 
:ice  among 
cl,  it  is  very 
'ery  farmer 
1  grass  and 
An  expos- 
le  constitu- 
roody  fibre. 


CUUING     CLOVKUH     FOU    STOCK.  33r. 

rJniss  and  hay  are  greatly  i„|„,,.l  ,,,   ,,„„...        ^,,,, 

.g  undu-  a  hot  sun  withont  being  turned.  A  son.e- 
Mlutt J.ilerent    n.ethod    i.    adopted    for    the    artilijal 

The  nat,,rnl  grasses,  when  cut  for  Imv,  are  generallv 
s[.rcad  and  dr.ed  as  rapidiv  as  possib  e  in  order  . 
socu.  then,  in  the  best  man..r.     liperien;.:i.:' !::. 

op.     It  ,e,p„res  a  longer  tin.e   to  cure  it  properlv 

Iro'  l^u/^r"'  ':  'T  ^^""'''"^  ^""'  '^  '«  inju'-ed  e      ; 

on.l  tender  blosson.s  are  <pnckly  browned,  and  lose  their 
sweetness  „)  a  measure,  and  are  then.selves  hable  t  c 
was  ed  tn  handling  over.  Most  good  fln.ners,  h  .JLt 
proter  to  cure  tt  in  the  cock.  A  practical  lu.ner  o V 
ongexp.-,ence,says:  H  p.^fer  to  n.ow  clover  whe. 
t  IS  dry,  free  from  dew;  let  it  wilt,  and  the  same  dav- 
it IS  n.own  fork  ,t  into  cocks  whieh  will  w.:  .h  from 
forty  to  Mty  weight  when  fit  for  the  barn.  Do  „o 
rake^and    roll    it:    that  process  will   eompress   it  too 

"According  to  the  weather  and  my  convenience,  I 
let  It  8  and  :  ,t  wdl  settle  and  turn  the  rain  very  well 
and  xym  answer  to  put   into  the  mow  while  the  heads 
nnd  st^dks  are  yet  green  and  fresh.     When  fit  to   cart, 
the  stalks,  although  green,  will  be  found  to  be  destitute 
or  nearly  so,  of  sap  :    the   sap  has  candied,   and    the 
clover  wdl  keep.     On  the  day  of  carting,  turn  the  cock, 
over,  expose  the  bottom  to  the  s^n  an  hour  or  so,  and 
to^a  ton  of  hay  add  four  to  six  quarts  of  salt  in  the 

''  Good  clover-  not  rank-  cured  in  this  way  T  ron- 
'^t!!^!'  7''^^  "^'-^r^'  ^'  nuite  as  much  as  clear  Tim- 


othy  to  feed  to 


a  stock  of  cjittle,  and 


i. 


consider  it  to  be  by  far  preferable  to  Tim 


for  milcl 
othy 


i  cow 


Good 


336 


CURING    CLOVEES    FOE    STOCK. 


U  '  % 


I  \-\ 


:i 


clover  ].ay  will  keep  up  the  quantity  of  milk,  while 
tnnothy  will  diminish  it." 


Still  another  says :  » I  have  found  no  better  hay  for 
farm  stock  than  good  clover,  cut  in  season.  For  milch 
cows  it  is  much  better  than  timothy.  It  keeps  horses 
that  are  not  worked  hard  better  tlian  any  hay.     And 


milk,  while 


-3 

3 


;er  hay  for 
For  milch 
ips  horses 
lay.     And 


MIXING     WITH    OLD     HAY. 


337 


draw,,  ,l„.„„„|, ,,  ,.,,ck"_''  V  '  :  "'■'V""""'  "'""'>'  ^>-' 
"oo„,  „„,1  1„I  ,t  lie  i,  t,,„  ;  ""■  •,'"^-."!  'I-  'ore. 
codes  i„  tl,e  .lto,-„,„„,  •>        ""''"''V""J  pit  It  li,to  small 

sweet  and  free  fh.m  mould  -Z    /       7   'T  ^'''^ 
other  hay."     Another  ^      '.  r  i  '''^"'''  ''^'^"  ^^'^'' 

^^'^'•»  ^^''tli  old  hayorstrw      T  :  T-"^'  "  '"  '^'^ 

rear  a,,,  ,_,^;-^-  .      I  -^^^^^^ 

fined  it  as  rnnch  as  possible  tn   n       ;''^''""«'   ^'"t  and 

i-otheharnthesar;:;;e:::::"i^^^^^ 

old  .wale  hay  that  had  been  left  nZ       I  '  '^""^ 

oi  old  hay,  then  a  layer  of  c  over       '•.?""'.^  '"  ^''^''' 
square  mow.     My  neithbnrl  .7'    "''^'"^'  '^  "P  '"  ^ 
should  burn  myC'down    ^l'  ''''  "^^'  '""'  -"'^  ' 
stuff.'     But  I  „Lt    "v  I  n      ^•^P"y'"ff  '■"  that  'f,reen 
than  that.      The  ex  il   .      ]7  ^''"^   ^''''''-  ^'^^er  hay 

-aie  hay,  as  w^ll^L^WerVh '   '''  ''""'-'    ^^ 
tide  of  smoke  al)out  it  Lfl  '"'''  '''''  "'^^  '-^  P''^''- 

>n  this  wav,  or  I  V  th!  1'"^  ''  ""*•     ^^'''^^"  ^"''^'^ 

think  cIov;hlvTswortrtri'"°'''"   ^'^^   -^'^^  ^ 

English  hay  ^    f  ed  Tt   o    ""^  ^"'^',  '^'  '""^'^  ^^  ^'^^ 
_  .^        iteu  out  to  farm  stock." 


'•om  what  has  been  said 


ni'ght  be  mulf  ,  ied,   it 


m  n 


iese  extracts,  which 


20 


appears  evident   that    good 


S^f. 


TESTIMONY    OF    PRACTICAL    FARMERS. 


f::!'i 


U;      I 


Ihrmers  appreciate  the  importance  of  so  curing  clover 
as  to  preserve  its  tender  and  succulent  ibiiage.  They 
are  careful  not  to  over-dry  it,  fur  fear  of  loss  of  the 
blossoms  and  the  leaves.  But  it  is  not  uncommon 
among  thriftless  farmers  to  handle  it  in  such  a  way 
that  the  best  parts  of  it  are  shaken  off  and  destroyed. 

The  method  detailed  in  the  las^  extract,  of  mixing 
clover  with  a  poor  quality  of  hay  or  straw,  has  some- 
times been  adopted  with  great  success,  the  clover  im- 
parting its  fragrant  odor  to  the  hay  with  which  it  is 
brought  in  contact,  greatly  improving  its  quality,  while 
its  own  value  is  preserved  without  injury.  It  is  not 
only  a  matter  of  convenience,  oftentimes,  to  have  the 
clover  so  secured  in  catciiing  weather,  but,  on  careful 
experiment,  may  be  found  worthy  of  being  more  gener- 
ally practised. 

The  general  testimony  of  practical  firmeis,  as  to  the 
value  of  clover  hay  as  compared  with  that  of  Timothy 
and  redtop,  our  prevailing  natural  grasses,  varies  ex- 
ceedingly ;  some  making  it  of  equal  value,  others  esti- 
mating it  at  one-half,  and  from  that  to  two-thirds  and 
three-fourths. 

The  practice  of  raising  Indian  corn  to  cut  and  feed 
out  green  by  way  of  partial  soiling  is  very  common  in 
New  England,  as  already  intimated,  in  speaking  of  the 
natural  history  of  the  grasses.  This  culture  has  been 
carried  still  further  by  many  farmers,  and  many  acres 
are  raised,  in  various  parts  of  the  country,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  cdtting  and  curing  for  winter  use.  Great  hopes 
are  entertained,  by  many,  of  the  utility  of  the  culture 
and  use  of  the  Chinese  sugar-cane  also,  which,  it  is 
thought  may  be  raised,  cut,  and  cured,  in  the  same  way, 
and  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  common  practice  with  regard  to  Indian  corn  for 
a  fodder  crop,  and  which  has    been  already  partially 


:mers. 

curing  clover 
>liiige.     Tliey 
t'  lofss   of  the 
)t   uncommon 
sucli  !i   way 
destroyed, 
ct,  of  mixing 
iw,  has  some- 
;he  clover  im- 
h  whicli  it  is 
juality,  while 
y.     It  is  not 
,  to  have  the 
it,  on  careful 
more  gener- 

Bis,  as  to  the 
of  Timothy 
>s,  varies  ex- 
,  others  esti- 
I'o-thirds  and 

cut  and  feed 
'  common  in 
d?ing  of  the 
re  has  been 

many  acres 
for  the  pur- 
Great  hopes 

the  culture 
which,  it  is 
3  same  way, 

ian  corn  for 
dy  partially 


ind;an  corn  foddrr. 


339 


J.,   tin.  mode  '     e  C    r     ™,™'"'«   "■'"'   "'«  '"«*• 
inches  higl,  ..„,,  „„,,,,  ,  ;^  ";'  -   :-'  -X  <o  ,,velv„ 

oH,or  aite,.  culture  fs  gencally,"  do^     tL?"  ■■  "" 
mg  «.unnouly  takes  pbce  about  tl  ,  "  "°"- 

"itenals  of  a  week  „r  ten  duV  m   T  T   '  °""'R«. '" 

to  eut  ,t  a,,  to  cure  tor  winter  use       '  'le-'Kued 

generally  ,,relerred,  in  order  to  he'  n  I  1  '^  """'"»  ''» 
>«;..  weather,  in  A'ugust  to  ,v  ,  t^^Z^T^l  '" 
■"  tins  way,  about  three  or  (bur  bushek  n  " 

q«"ed  for  an  aere  ;  .inee,  itZ    t^^' ^^l'!?  '!'■ 
'.etter,  ti.e  stalks  s^aller.'and  the  w2el;,f    "'''"  " 
J  he  chief  difficulty  in  curing  corn  cultiv.ted  fo,.  ,i  • 

CX'  ^  iifr-t"'°  -"""-^  ^^•'°'<- ' '' :,  ites'^a,^';; 

rom  tiiciau  that  .t  comes  at  a  season  when  the  weather 
s  often  colder,  the  days  shorter,  and  the  deJ,    e     Ir 
.1   n  when  the  curing  of  hay  takes  place.     No  '  i      .e' 
c  "ing  of  corn  cut  np  green  so  easy  and  simple  as  ,     t 
o    dry,ng  the  stalks  of  Indian  corn  cut  abole  the  e 

Phnti,"rir7°"  ■"'■""'"^  of  topping,  since  then  thj 
pla  t  ,s  nper,  less  .,u,cy,  and  cures  more  readily.     The 

"nndle    TT-"'  "''""'"^  ''  '°  ""  -"1  'i"  "■*■'  <tna 
g  ou  d  ;;        ".f  .'""!«"••>"'  -"*"-'."'-'  "took  upon  the 
ground,  where  ,t  ,s  allowed  to  stand,  subject  to  all  the 

stoTit,:^*' rr"?"^  -"'"'  °"'^-  *""  n-<ectio„  of  tte 
stook  .tself.  The  stooks  consist  of  hunches  of  stalks 
first  bound  m  small  bundles,  and  are  „,„.,e  suffiei  ^ 
large  to  prevent  the  wind  from  blowing  them  oven 


'1(1 


I    I 


340 


KILN-DRYING     INDIAN    CORN. 


The  arms  are  thrown  around  the  tops  to  bring  them 
together  as  closely  as  possible,  when  the  tops  are  broken 
over  or  twisted  together,  or  otherwise  iUstened,  in  order 
to  make  the  stook  "  shed  tlie  ruin  "  as  well  as  possible. 
In  this  condition  they  stand  out  till  sulliciently  dried  to 
put  into  the  barn. 

But  Indian  corn  stocked  in  this  way  often  becomes 
musty  or  covered  with  dust,  wiiile  the  rains  often  soak 
It  tnoroughly  and  wash  out  much  of  its  soluble  matter 
and  Its  nutritive  value  is  in  a  great  measure  lost      Be' 
sides  every  one  knows  that  to  cut  up  a  green  plant,  as 
a  willow  or  any  other  thriftily-growing  plant  or  shrub, 
and  set  It  up  with  the  cut  end  resting  upon  the  ground 
where  it  can  still  derive  moisture  from  the  soil,  wh! 
prevent  its  drying.     There  can  be  no  doubt,  also  that 
the  exposure  to  the  sun,  wind,  and  rain,  greatly  in  ures 
It,  by  removing  mnch  of  its   sweetness,  or  changh,g  it 
to  woody  fibre,  while  it  takes  from  it  its  beautiful  fresh 
green  color. 

To  avoid  the  losses  necessarily  attending  these  modes 
of  curing,  some  have  suggested  kiln-drying  as  far  pref- 
erable,  and,    on   the    whole,  as  economical.      I   have 
known  the  experiment  tried  in  one   or  two  instances 
with  complete  success,  the  fodder  coming  out  with  its 
iresh  green   color  and  apparently  better  relished   hv 
cattle    than    that   dried    in    the    ordinary   way       This 
method   appears  to   me  to   be  worthy  of  much  more 
xteiH  ed  and  careful  experiment.      The  kiln  need  not 
be  elaborately  or  expensively  contrived.     The  process 
of  drying  would  be  short,  an.]  the  labor  slight 

Another  niode  n^hich  has  been  suggested  is  to  hang 
It  up  in  shods  open  to  the  air,  precisely  as  tobacco  is 
cured.  This  process  would  be  longer,  but  the  nutritive 
qualities  of  the  plant  would  probably  be  better  pre- 
served than  if  cured  in  the  onen  air  xviih  H  ^ 

1-  Liii,  u|jen  air,  witn  the  exposure 


I 


If 


if 


*«■ 


0  bring  them 
ps  tiro  broken 
jned,  in  order 

1  as  possible. 
;ntJy  dried  to 

ften  becomes 
lis  often  soak 
luble  matter, 
ire  lost.  Be- 
■een  plant,  as 
uit  or  shrub, 
the  ground, 
the  soil,  will 
bt.  also,  that 
eatly  injures 


chani 


ing  it 


autiful  fresh 

these  modes 
as  far  pref- 
il'  I  have 
'o  instances 
out  with  its 
relished  by 
'vay.  This 
much  more 
iln  need  not 
Phe  process 
'it. 

I  is  to  hang 
I  tobacco  is 
le  nutritive 
better  pre- 
e  exposure 


THE    METHODS    OF    RAKING.  341 

10  u.culate  through  It.    After  bein.^  well  dried 
It  IS  taken  down  ..i,,i     *.         1  ^'"a  **^"  uiieii 


Fig.  164. 


tbe  horse-.ake   Fig   ^q^  ^^  '''^''''  "^""^^^'^'l^^ntly  mth 
met  with  e-re'if  nn..     •  '  '*''  ^^'^'^'it  one.     It 

ouieon  sCi:sr  ^t  ;r"'"^^'-^'^  ^''--^-di- 

ing.     I  sh- 11  *'^''^^->'  *"'^  economical  f  irm- 

of  the  circular   "/^J!  /       tJurteenth  question 

years.    JIiicl,  |,l,„"  !  ,        '""■■"^■™kL'»  I™-  /mem, 

^o,>o-n,ko    I,  t     °  I  '  ''"'f  ^7  "'"  "'"'  <■»■  "".V  ki..,I  „f 

^-^-ening,  or  in  a  cloudy  L       Z  """'""f '  "'  '^'' 

Ht  the  verv  ri.l,f  Z!'  1''^.;     ^"^  .'"^^  '""^t  be   raked 


very  right  time,  or  it  may  b/entir 


29* 


■ely  spoiled. 


!'  I'n 


342 


THE   HORSE-RAKE. 


I  i  ii 


! 


It  IS  therefore,  quite  important  to  work  quickly,  wlieu 
the  time  for  doing  it  comes.  With  a  good  rake,  u  ma-i 
and  horse  will  gather  more  hay  in  half  an  h„ur  than  ., 
laborer  with  a  hand-rake  usually  gathers  in  a  long  after- 
noon,-that  IS,  one  ucrej  this  is  considered  a  half-day's 
nikmg  by  hand-rake."  ^ 


Fife'.  165.     Kevolvintr  Uiike. 

The  independent  rake  operates  very  well.  The  ,.Id 
revolving  rake.  Fig.  IGo,  costs  about  the  same.  One 
objection  to  the  spring-tooth  rake  is,  that  the  wire  tretli 
scratch  up  too  much  earth.     This  is  seen  in  Fi-  lOi) 


Fife'.  160.     Spi  infe'-tooth  Rake. 

These  are  primitive  forms  of  the  horse-rake,  but  thev 
are  still  used  m  some  parts  of  the  country. 

A  practical  farmer  says :  "  My  opinion  is  that  no  mod- 
ern invention  of  agricultural  implements  has  made  so  great 


quickly,  when 
(1  vake,  a  inaii 
n  liour  than  a 
II  a  long'  aftoi- 
3cl  a  lialf-day'is 


THE    rXDKPEXDENT    HAKE. 


343 


■11.     Tlie  „1,1 
«aine.     One 
ii!  Avire  teeth 
1  Fig,  l(j(j. 


fe,  but  tliey 

hat  no  inod- 
ade  so  great 


a  savin,  over  the  old  .netliod  of  performing  farm  work 
as  the  nidependent  liorse-rake  " 
Another  .ay.:    -rhe  -Independent'  has  taken   tlie 


aee  of  the  revolver  with  me:  it  is  managed  with 
n  u  h  more  ease,  the  teeth,  eaeh  one  acting  indq,  n  eli 
of  all  others,  at  all  times  laying  ou  the  sn^face,  vh    , 


i  iv 


:        ill     !l 
/      '.Si    (i 


t 


'\ 


344 


OPINIONS     OF     FARAfKRs. 


even  or  otlierwf^P   wHi  ,.  >i       i 

spniig-tootli."  '^  "'^^  ■'«  will  the 

And  another  :  "  I  use  the  wire-tcntl,      Ti     •    , 
en^  or  wheel  ralce  is  used  so,.         C    •...■.      '  ";'''?"'^- 
<i''0"t  sixtv  tons  of  h.,v-    ..  "  ^'•""'-      ^  f-'it 

Hiid    second    in    qualitv    of    1  ^  '"   ''''""•- 

-^edatni,ht.'^An:jhe^:r:Mr;;;v^^ 
revolving-   horse-rake  for   the   Lt   t,  n  '"'"^  *''" 

'"^^^    n^y    opinion    is    that     coul  '"""'  "''  '""'■^^' 

'between   six   men   („•  -I  ,      '"''''    "'>'    ^'''0'<'« 

with  a  <iuanti      of  h.v    ""'  ""'   '■'^'"'  '^^^^^''  ^'"''--^ 
latter."    ^  ^        ^'"^   '^^  ^^^'"''^^  ^  ^'''^"J^l  take   the 


%'-167.    TlK.L,af.rRake. 

:""'  '"  ^..al'lo  ,,.  ,„  .,ve  tm,e  and  ,  °  '  ! ''J  °™"- 
!■■  a  vastly  l,etter  condition  T  ,"'""">'  the  cio|, 
"■e  OKI  and  slow  moth«  of  iv,  \  ""  ^"l^'^ded 
tent    -n,d   .1,        "'°"«""'  "I  haynig  to  a  very  lame  e\- 

fiut  there  w  s   t  Aeft   1  el;""  ""'""T"*^' 
an,l  st.,«mc,  awiv  in  t  L       ''''"'""'"^  *'"k  "t  l-itching 

k  luusut,  and  took  mnch  valuable  time. 


I  the  revolver, 
lay  as  will  the 

i'he  independ- 
;i''">d.     [  cut 

"l\  0  IK)  (loill)t 

"'■"^t  ill  labor, 
yihing  being 
s»ve  used  the 
i''s  or  more, 
my  choice 
ii'fer  dinner, 
iJd  take   the 


THE    HORSE-B^ORK. 


345 


the  horse- 
liave  done 
i  liay  crop, 
it  the  cro]) 
superseded 
Y  large  ex- 

the  most 

f  pitcliing 
3k.  Tliat 
^ihle  time. 


ii  ton  m  t  ve  minutpv*  n,.  1..C,        v,  ^''•^  ""^e-     J  •>  unload 


J'it'.  lOS.    The  Grappling;  Hay.Pork. 


f'lmple  arrangement  of  pullers  flu.  i.o      •  •,     ^ 

;i."c.dy  c„„«,ed  fro„,\t-i  ad  t„':v;;;r  'f ';;"' 

Wrii,  a.,,1  ,I,-„i,,,e<I  i„  tI,o  l.aj-  ^   '  "'° 

fork  !.  ea.i„  adjusted,  du,4.o  Ido  "iU-I       '.'^rt 
can  be  useil  for  |„,y  or  straiv      \  ,1  ,  i  '"""'•    " 

is  shown  on  p.  346.  "'"''  '""Toou-fork 


'ip 


1! 


■  I 


340 


THE    HOllSE-FOllK. 


Fig.  170.    Thu  I'uliuur  Fork. 


Fig.  109,    Boulile  narpoon.Kork. 


The  lVe(iueiit  losses  to  which  farmers  are  subject  in 
inakiii}^-  hay  have  sug-g-ested  tlie  use  of  liay-caps,  made 
to  cover  the  cocks  and  protect  them  from  tiie  weather. 
It  is  but  recently  that  their  use  was  introduced,  and, 
like  most  novelties,  it  has  met  with  objections  from 
some  on  tin;  score  of  economy,  while  their  use  is  as 
strongly  ai)j)roved  by  others  on  the  same  ground.  I 
have  often  seen  them  used,  and  the  time  taken  to  cover 
•an  acre  of  grass  or  hay  in  cock  partially  cured  is  less 
than  most  would  naturally  suppose.  Where  they  are  to 
be  used,  less  care  is  needed  for  "trimming  down"  the 
cock,  and  putting  it  in  a  condition  to  shed  the  rain. 

An  experienced  practical  farmer  says :  ''  1  have  used 


I 


ler  Fork. 


5ul)jeot  in 
ips,  niiule 
!  woatlicr. 
loefl,  and, 
ions  from 
use  is  as 
i-oiiiuL     I 

I  to  COVCM' 

ed  is  less 
ley  are  to 
^^vn  "  tlie 
rain, 
iave  used 


USE     OV     II  AY- CAPS. 


347 


hay-caps  witli  g-ood  rcsidts.  I  liavc  one  iiundrod  made 
ol  euttun  sheeting,  two  yards  scjuarc,  witli  pins  attached 
to  the  four  corners  with  strong  twine;  the  hundred 
cost  me  just  forty  dolhirs.  1  thinic  they  have  saved  me 
twenty  dollars  this  year.  I  liad  at  one  time  this  season 
one  hun(hi'd  and  tiiirty  cocks  standing  out  in  a  six 
days'  storm.  One  inunhed  were  covered,  and,  not 
having  caps  enough,  thirty  were  left  uncovered.  'lUe 
uncovered  was  worth  but  little,  while  the  covered  was 


Fi),'.  171.    Hay-capa. 

passable  hay.  T  stonked  som(>  oats,  which  T  capped. 
They  stood  a  two  days'  rain  without  injni-v."  And 
another:  "Our  caps  are  made  of  heavy  fivi^-fourths 
cotton  cloth,  cut  s(|uar(',  with  lour  little  loops,  through 
which  Ave  run  a  slim  wooden  pin  into  the  hay-cock. 
The  pins  hold  it  better  than  weights  in  the  corner. 
Ours  cost  twenty-one  cents  apiece.  Have  saved  the 
cost  in  one  stnmi  thi-^  season." 

"  In  reply  to  your  question  as  to   the  utility  of  hay- 
caps,"  says  another  firmer,  "  it  gives  me  pleasure  to 


348 


ECONOMY    OF    HAY-CAPS. 


! 


i 


8uy  tluit,  after  using  them  constantly,  for  the  last  seven 
years,  1  vousulw  thcni  of  ti.e  first  iniportanco  in  the 
most  cntiral  hnindi  of  fanning. 

"1  can  .atbly  alHini  that  n.y  hay  has  been  intrinsically 
worth,  on  the  average,  one  or  two  dollars  a  ton  more 
than  my  neighhors",  which  luts  been  ,.rovc.l  by  the 
remarkal)lo  health  ol  my  animals. 

"My  horses  have  nt.t  been  sick  an  hour,  and  the 
heaves  are  unknown  in  my  stable,  which  may  fairly  be 
Httrd.uted  to  the  flict  that  no  musty  hay  ever  enters  my 
barn;  and  it  is  probable  that  the  milk  of  cows  may  be 
as  unhealthy,  if  they  eat  ba.lly-cured  hay,  as  if  led  on 
what  IS  called  swill  in  the  cities. 

"  Having  these  covers  always  at  hand,  it  has  been  ray 
practice  to  mow  my  grass  when  it  was  ready,  without 
consultnig  the  almanac,  or  waiting  for  a  change  of  the 
moon  ;  and  the  result  has  been  that  I  have  had  more 
than  my  share  of  good  luck  in  this  important  brandi  of 
business. 

"  They  are  also  very  useful  as  a  protection  against 
heavy  dews,  and  as  a  cover  for  coarse  clover  and 
Timothy  I  consider  them  iiidispeiisuble, 

"  After  long  experience,  1  have  found  the  most  ap 
proved  method  of  making  the  hay-covers,  avIucIi  may 
be  used  for  wheat  and  other  grain  crops  with  great 
advantage,  is  to  take  stout  unbleached  cotton  sheeting, 
of  a  suitable  width,  say  from  thirty-seven  to  fortv-five 
inches  wide,  — the  latter  is  the  best,  — cut  it"^  into 
squares,  and  attach  to  each  corner,  by  a  string  or  other- 
wise, a  pin  niiide  of  wood,  twelve  or  fifteen  inches  long, 
cut  off  smooth  at  one  end  and  rounded  over  at  tire 
other,  which  completes  the  affair.  The  size  of  the  pin 
should  be  about  an  inch  in  diameter. 

"  Hemming  the  selvages  is  a  matter  of  fancy,  as  they 
would  do  very  well  without  it ;  and,  if  u  tannery  is  near 


ast  seven 
!:o  in  tlie 

n'iMiciilly 
toll  more 
I   hy  the 

and  tlie 

liiirly  be 

nters  niy 

i  niiiy  be 

f  led  on 

been  ray 

without 

e  of  the 

iid  more 

■iUK'll  of 

against 
ver  and 

nost  ap 
ich  may 
li  groat 
heeting, 
)rty-five 

it  into 
r  other- 
Bs  long, 

at  the 
the  pin 

as  they 
is  near 


A     rKIlMAXKNT    STinCTlltK.  349 

by,  it  would  greatly  imiirove  them  to  phiiige  them 
int..  ii  vat  for  twu  or  tlireo  day.s.  This  wouhl  tiiicken 
up  tho  doth  an  inch  or  two,  mikI  make  it  luori"  .hirabhs 
as  well  as  much  more  cllV'ctiial.  A  decoction  of  bark, 
witli  ulum,  or  Home  iithur  Hslringciit,  would  probulilv 
answer  ecpmllv  as  well ;   but   this   is  not 


mak 


HeCfNHUt 


11,  to 


e  an  e  uellei*:  hay-covcr.  Like  a  cotton  umbrella, 
the  first  I'as'h  «)f  i  heavy  shower  would  cause  it  to 
Kpatt(>r  thi  <u;Ji  for  (;  moment,  but  would  do  JittI 


narm. 


1   (1 


e  or  no 


O) 


""';ether  a  larger  si/,u   than   fortvfjv, 
inches  stpiare,  or  forty-five  by  titty,  would  be  desirable 
Mine    have    been    not    iiui 
square." 


ell    over    thirtv-six    iiicl 


les 


Another   farmer   says:    "  I  have    never    used    the 


myself,  but  tliev  are 


m 


advantage.     A  neighbor  ot 


used  in  the  lu-igliborhood  ti 


mine,  who   has  used  tl 


goo 


lem 


for  three  years,  says  they  have  been  worth  to  him  this 
year  the  whole  cost,  as  with  them  he  has  been  able  to 
get  all  his  hay  in  in  good  order,  while  a  large  .pjantitv, 
where  they  wen;  not  used,  was  made  nearly  worthle.ss 
by  the  long-continued  wet  weather." 

A  permanent  structure  for  covering  and  f)rotecting 
hay-stacks  is  described  by  a  farmer,  in  answer  to  the 
question  [)roposed  in  the  circui»r,  as  follows:  •' I  have 
a  structure  called  a  hay-caf),  which,  if  farmers  have  not 
sufficient  barn-room,  I  think  would  bee<'oiu.mical,as  hay 
can  be  more  rapidly  secured  than  in  the  comm.ui  stack, 
and  It  obviates  the  necessity  of  fencing,  and  prevents  the' 
hay  from  being  wet  while  the  stack  is  open  for  feeding. 
This  cap  is  twelve  feet  square,  and  consists  of  two  sills, 
fourteen  feet  in  length  an<l  eight  inches  square,  four 
posts,  five  inches  square  and  seventeen  feet  long, 
framed  into  the  sills  one  foot  from  the  end  of  the  same.' 


The  sill.. 


are  held  together  b.y  tw 


o  girt.-^,  framed  into  the 


post  just  above  the  sill.     The  posts  are  held  firmly  by 


ijiii'^^'^^ 


350 


PERMANENT    CAPS    FOR    STACKS. 


girts    placed  five  feet  eight  inches  above  the  sills  to 
which  lie.ght  the  box   part  of  the  structure  is  boarcle,! 
Ihe  posts  above  the  b..x  are  perforated  with  lioles   one 
foot  apart,  for  the  insertion   of  pins,  to  sustain  the  cap 

.     light  as  possible,  so  that  it  may  be  readily  raised  by 
P  acnig  t  e  shoulder  under  the   corner.     Tile  frame  of 

te  posts  and  adm.t  of  some  play.  The  rafters  are 
H"al  joists,  nine  feet  m  length,  the  feet  resting  upon 
slant  pieces  of  joist,  placed  across  the  corners  of  the 
frame  thereby  forming  openings  for  the  posts  to  pass. 
The  tops  of  the  rafters  are  nailed  together  over  the 
centre  of  the  frame.  Girts  should  be  placed  halfway 
rom  the  eaves  to  the  point  of  the  roof,  to  nail  covering 
'H.ards  to  Ihese  should  be  good  half-inch  stuff,  and 
run  from  the  eaves  to  the  rafters.     The  tops  of  the  posts 

should   be   kept  from  spreading  by  stay  lathing  them. 

A  hay-cap  of  the  dimensions  given  will  hold  five  tons 

o    hay.     The  cost  I  do  not  know,  as  this  was   on  the 

pJaee  at  the  time  of  my  coming  on  to  it." 


f   y 


A' 


he  sills,  to 
■•^  boiirded. 
iioles,  one 
ill  tlie  cap 
(1  be  made 
raised  by 
frame  of 
ill  outside 
if'ters   are 
ting  upon 
3rs  of  the 
s  to  pass, 
over  the 
hall-way 
covering- 
stuff,  and 
the  posts 
Mg  them, 
five  tons 
3  on  the 


CHAPTER     XT 

ORNERAL  TREATMENT  OP  GRASS  LANDS. 

The  importance  of  having  the  ground  well  tilled  and 
thnrou.Hhly  ,)repared  by  lil.eral  manuring  before  com- 
m-  (.ng  the  seed  to  it,  is  too  apparent  to  nee.l  remark. 
\\  hen  the  seed  Ks  sown,  it  is  tho  common  practice  to 
harrow  ,t  m,  either   with  an  iron-tooth   or  a  bush   or 
brush  harrow,  or  botli ;  an.l  those  who  adopt  a  more 
careful  culture  follow  these  operations  with  a  thorough 
rolling,  wluch  compresses  the  soil,  and  usually  causes  an 
earher  germination  of  the  seed.    The  importance  of  this 
last  operation,  that  of  rolling,  is  too  often  overlooked. 
By  reference  to  Table  XIV.,  the  importance  of  cover- 
ing  a    the  proper  depth  is  also  apparent,  since  it  will  he 
seen  ihat  a  large   proportion  of  the   seeds  germinated 
with  a  very  slight  covering. 

Many  questions  of  a  practical  character  suggest  them- 
selves o  the  farmer,  after  all  has  been  done  to  secure 
a  complete  an,:  thorough  cultivation  of  the   soil  and    i 

fan  ferdin "''''''  ''"'^  ''"'""^'  *''"  ^'''*  ''  *''^  economy  of 
This  is  the  term  applied  to  feeding  off  the  aftermath 
of  mowing  land.,  a  practice  which  is  very  prevalent, 
and  justified  by  experienced  farmers  rather  on  the  plea 
of  necessity  than  any  other,  since  most  farmers,  of  care- 
iiil  observation,  admit,  Hu.f  Jf  ;..  r.r.  t-u^  ...i,_i-    •  •     . 

injurious. 


^  iargo  r)roportion  of  those  who  are  in  the  habit  of 


fall- 


(351) 


h 


352 


OPINIONS    OF    FARMERS. 


«ol,M„,eX  .t.;VV"^V'•'''T''■''''''- 
«.■<le,■  ,-,.  a„  i„j,„,-  ;  „"'„:,.  '  A  'T'''''  '""  """■ 
food  off,  moJorVt,.|v  ,         «  "  ''"  ""•>■"•  "^  do 

flou^^auci  ~:^::^ ;«'';;:  trrf'  f  ->'  ">°"ing 

tl«.n  if  left  o„  the  g™ ,  I  to  ™      7!  "'"™  ''^  '«" 

tlio  l-iki.,tlie  next  ve,L,- -    V        .  '   ,         "  ""'.'"'«  ""d 
-Cioa  of  „,;■  '^, ,    :,  .^P™:'!"  '»;™o.;  in  „„„t,,e,. 

growth  of  mowing  ,i  "7;  „.l       7     ""   ""■  """'■• 
hoat  ti,e  root,  JulhlJ!^^        '"  ""'  '""  ''"""  '""■ 

antriHtinu^iir^zs'-f.^r:!'^-';-"'' 

top-(  lessin-  is  u.pH   «n.J     f     "^'"  "i  -iJi  cases  where  a 

«.ru»p,o,.^c;::trt,:L:;r;:r 

.i.eit„,. ,;;  «.,„.;,  f  ;  f,'"i7?;;-/  ™*-"  e™.d 

feed  i.  off  and  then  topdress  i    ll  fi'-T'  '"'"  ^  "' 

«e)d.odo»o,a„ri'iHi;;Lrp:r/3rv''d 
:T:tL':X"' I  fe^^iroTr-" '""-■•- -'^ 

^         letd  It  off  because  it  is  necessary 


'ti'cal  farmer, 
would  prub- 

it  the  milk- 
Anotlier, 
•,  "Do  you 
lands  in  the 
lefit  to  the 
y,  but  con- 
eys :  "  I  do 
>y  mowinir 
lore  so  fed 
?e  mass  of 
'cythe  and 
ill  another 
the  after- 
nipelled  to 
hink  it  an 
'ih,  which 
tlown  and 

n  the  fall, 

i  where  a 
old  field 
Where  a 
it  is  like 

s  a  grand 

says :  " I 

a  benefit 
f  'lid  not 
'I'ites  me 
•.\'  to  the 
to  feed 
r,  and  is 
Jceasary 


^f'UTlCE    AND    i;XPEKIENCE.  353 

Heial  to  tl,„   iSVZ!'-^  \  ''''  ""'   """k   it  bene- 

"U"n„„,,..-  A  ve,,.  expenonced  It;,  ',""""  '",«' ''>■ 
vudon,  wrrtcvs  me:  "To  «,me  extern  T  V  "'^"  "'■• 
l'"'n  choice,  l,„t  c.nvenienee  tL\  " r  "  ""'■  ""' 
cattle  i,  »„,„e  ,„j,„,,,  „„j  „,?fe„f  "'7"  ',"'''  "f  ""^ 
"f  gmss,  and  leave  tl,e  wild   ,1™    ,  '*■"  ''''"'^^ 

"!•  tlieii-  growtl,     1„  „,,.      '"      ""  '°  «"*"«.  file  area 

are  kept  ,',  the  be«t  "o^ditl^ln-Tr'  ""r"*  S'""""' 
»eeo„d  cop,  with  tir.cL^ '"^fS '''' '''««'»' "nd 
with  e„r;p„'t  ma„„,e,  ..•"'•  '""^  '-"™""'"^-  '''c-in,. 

«.  ™;,  :r  t;;.'V^i:.  x'>"=^  "'■-""-^-  r»-oai 

torn   ,.s    to   t0|Mlre.s   n„    I,  '"J'"'""'-     %  cu». 

c".npo.  -n:.e'::Lr.ir  ;'i.s::;:';o";';''  *'"'"•' 

once  in  two  or  three  veir..  /'"'  •■'^"  '"  Hie  acre 
year,  and  a  portion  I  e  nex  '  "wi""  :,'"  °''  '"*'  '"  '™'^ 
liable  to  wash  _e„.   .  „  "''"  "'*'  e'lamd  i,,  not 

fall  r«in.and  W„ ter tow,      ."'„"  "  '''■^™''«"  '"■'■  '^^ 
in  the  early  spr!"g  »  '  """^  ""=  8™»»  '»  benefited 

"  FtrinerrT''""'""   ''"™""'  ''"  """"'"   ''action    says  ■ 

lanneis  here  are  in   the  habit  of  feeding- off 
mow  ng  iinds  in  Mm  en  v,  »  i  'ecning  oB  their 

e  ""iii»  in  the  tall,  but  have  no  donht  thnt  .1, 

"•     k  ome  think  the  mmrv  not  sn  nrp.t  o,  +i 
value  of  the  fe-t^^  r^P  fi,       c^      "   ^  ^^'^^  ^'^  ^''e 

^  ^'  iiie  leen  ot  the  after-growth" "  T  >,q,,„  u  j 

.'  it  i.!^:;^f;d  „"o  IT.  ".'!!«!'  _f-^™«  ■•»  «".v  i-i-y, 


00  close;  prefer  feeding  t 


•'^econ.  c,op,Rnd  feedmg  with  sheep  rather  than 
80* 


o  mowing  the 
cattle. 


h 


r 


354  EFFECT    OP    FALL    FEEDl\(i, 

And  another:  "The  feeding  of  <l,-y  niuuing  injures  it 
by  causing  it  to  run  out,  leaving  the  roots  exposed  to 
the  wniter,  while  moist  land  is  injured  by  the  cattle's 
feet  luucli  more  than  the  value  of  the  feed,  in  both  cases 
taking  all  oil,  and  leaving  nothing  to  ivnovate  the  land 
another  season." 

An  experienced  farmer  in   one  of  the  best  grazing 
owns  of  Massachusetts   says  :  ■"  It  is  now  more  than 
twonty  years  smce  I  have  allowed  anv  kind  of  domestic 
animal  to  feed  upon  our  mown  lands,  anc]  my  opinion 
previously  has  been  fully  confirmed  by  my  experience 
It  IS  a  decided  benefit  to  let  the  after-growth   remain 
upon  the  land  ;.  itis  a  protection  from  summer's  drought 
and  wmier's  cold.    Some  of  my  neighbors  are  following 
niy  example."    And  another  :  "  I  sometimes  feed  off  my 
after-grass      When  I  do  feed  it  ofi;  I  take  good  care  to 
feed  It  early,  and  leave  a  good  growth  to  protect  the 
roots  of  the   grass  from  frost  in  winter.     I  think  it  an 
injury  to  feed  ;  mowings  will  last  longer  not  to  be  fed 
at  all,  and  the  land  when  broken  up  will  produce  a  bet- 
ter  crop  of  corn  or  potatoes  than  if  fed  " 

From  these  extracts  it  will  appear  that  the  practice 
of  fall  feeding  ,s  very  general,  while  the  g„od  judgment 
of  practical  farmers  almost  unanimously  condenms  it  as 
injurious,  especially  to  feed  closely  and  late  in  the  sea. 
son.     The  reasons  assigned  for  the  practice  are,  chiefly 
the  necessity  generally  felt  for  feed  at  that  season  of 
the  year,  and  the  importance,  in  some  situations, -par- 
t.cukrlyon  interval  lands,- of  removing  all  protection 
or  the   mice,  which  frequently  prove  very  destructive 
to  the  roots  when  buried  with  the  snow  in  winter     All 
condemn  the  practice  of  too  close  feeding,  under  ali 
circumstances. 

The  fall   growth  collects  the   elements  of  a  thrifty 
growth  in  the  following  spring.     These  are  stored  up 


•iiig  injures  it 
'ts  exposed  to 
hy  tlie  cattle's 
,  in  both  cases 
ovate  the  Jand 

best  grazing 
iw  more  than 
d  of  domestic 
d  my  opinion 
y  experience, 
■owtl)  remain 
[ner's  drought 
are  following 
!S  feed  off  my 

good  care  to 
'  protect  the 

I  think  it  an 
not  to  be  fed 
roduce  a  bet- 

the  practice 
od  judgment 
ndenms  it  as 
te  in  the  sea. 
'  are,  chiefly, 
t  season  of 
tions,  —  par- 
11  protection 
destructive 
'.vinter.     All 
g,  under  all 

3f  a  thrifty 
i  stored  up 


IMPIIOVEMENT    OP    lASTU'RES.  355 

in  the  roots  over  Winter  for  the  early  use  of  the  plant. 
1  it  s  closely  fed,  the  sprmg  growth  must  be  p.  opor- 
tionably  later  a/id  feebler.  ^ 

But  one  of  the  most  important  questions  which  the 
fanner  m  the  older  sections  of  the  country  has  to  meet 
.s  the  proper  treatment  of  his  pasture  lands.     .Many  of 
our  old   pastures  have  been  stocked  hard,  tin.e  out  of 
mind,   and   the  grasses   in    them    have    been    literallv 
starved  out,  and  grow  thin  of  necessitv,  while,  as  tl.; 
finer   and   nutritious    grasses   disappear,   nature   very 
kindly  covers  up  the  nakedness  of  the  soil  with  moss 
as  an  evidence   of  the   effect,  and  not  the  cause,  of' 
poverty      1  hey  are  said  to  be  "  worn  "  or  "  run  out  " 
Mnuy  of  them  are  grown  over  with  bushes  m.d  briers 
and   other  equally  worthless  pests,  till  they  carry  but 
one  anm.al  to  four  or  five  acres,  and  often  require  twice 
c.at  amount  to  keep  an  animal  on  foot,  to  say  nothing 
of  fattenuig  h,m.    It  is  a  well-known  saying,  that  -  poor 
pastures  make  breachy  cattle."  ^ 

rndoubtedly,  thousands  of  acres  in  the  older  states 

v.th  cat  e,  and  many  an  observing  farmer  is  now  con- 
vinced of  tl.s  fact ;  but  still  we  must  have  pastm" 
lands;  and  there  are  circumstances  where  it  becomes 
important  to  improve  them,  and  increase  their  produc- 
tiveness. .Some  of  them  are  so  situated  that  they  can 
l^e  ploughed,  and  thus  brought  in,  with  other  cultivated 
lands,  to  the  general  rotation;  and  where  this  can  be 
done,  ,t  may  be,  on  the  whole,  the  best  and  most  eco- 
nomical mode  of  improving  them. 

In  answer  to  the  circular  on  a  preceding  page,.. 
melhgent  farmer  writes  me:  "I    have  renovated  my 
old  pasture  land  by  pulling  up  the  bushes  bv  the  root^ 
scarifymg  the  foul  or  mossy  places  with  t'he  harrow' 
and   sowing  on  grass-seed    and   clover,   both  red  and 


350 


wliiU* 


OLD    PASTunu    LANDS. 


Winn-.,  „  :  „,2  ;„'"  ■^—  '•■  T«.»f!on   10,-_ 

t,  n.  i.ia.^tu  01'  gypsum  has  bmud.t  in  f),  •  •  ' 
^-^^r  tne  next  year  after  .owi.-v  1  no^  .  ^  A'"''; 
farmer  says:  "The   host   m.fi     7  t    ,    ""^*'^ '  P'-'i^'tical 

-i'^'  redtop  and  white  :^:^;^^:^^;'f--^  ^"-n 
•f  '-je  without  adding  anythi  /<.  to  t,  '  ^'"^  ^  "'°P 

•'-!'"  -ith   'barn  cll;fi;''  ^^11'  ,\  ^l'' t" -^^'"^ 

Ponenoedfarmerofan^ther^L      ;.s.:^;^^r^" 
t'H-e  lands  can  he  phxighed   do  it  u!  h  V       ""  ^''^^ 

-'^y  «even  incd.es  deerharroJ  '  T"'"' "^"-^""^ 

J'"ndred  pounds  of  TW,'  ^^'o^oughly,   sow   one 

''"okMvhelt  p  7aere  '"  ^"'"^  '"^  ^''^'^^^^  P-^^-^  "^ 

time.     Sow  as     '  Ih'        ''"'"T  '^^'™  ^^^  '^^  ^''<^  ■'^^"^e 
adapted    to  le   soi     f/T'""    "^'   ''  *''^   ^'"^'   ^^-^ 

I  i-ve   tried  t^y  acr  r'at'aT'   "^'-  ,'"^'    ''    '"• 
cess."  -^        ^^  ""^  '^  *""«  ^vith  good 


v«UC- 


'-'  per  acre,  once  in  two  vears  ii»   +    +i  •  \ 

tlie  grass  incrpa^pH   A.  "^        '  ^      '  *"'s  time ; 

fe  "^-53  iiicreased   trom  year  to  vpar  ox 

most  of  the  hnrl  in  +i,-  .  ^     '^'  ^''  ^^  *»  cover 

Liie  jana  in  thirteen  vear"      T       „  t 

eommen,.,.  p,„„„,„^ ,.  I  p^:;.  .,:,;„,  >-:,;  ;«;i 


ie?fior!   IG 

'^onio  Jiavo 
ot  the  stock 
^  seed-sfulks. 
od  li.ia  h(  ,.n 

^"    f'H     lilli.S, 

"  ^^1-    'vliito 
'1^''  pmctical 
round   is  to 
^t)  tlio  acre, 
seed  down 
^''"g  a  crop 
len  seeding 
liile   an  ex- 
J^  the  pas- 
th  of  Jnne, 
,   sow  one 
'  pecks  of 
tlie  same 
kind  best 
'sh   it    in, 

good    8UC- 

'  question 
e  a  piece 
h'  a  spire 
nd  otiier 
'e  plains, 
^  sowing 
f  piaster 
lis  time  ; 
to  cover 
rs  ago  I 
lie  acre, 


'''''''    TO    RENOVATE    i'ASTURES.  357 

find  put  on  fifteen  Jn.wi .    *■ 

».l  about  a  l.a.l,cl   UK  1    T   f"'r7"'  "'"  »I"'"S. 
acre.    Tl,e  next   y^J      .,,'""'"'"''''"■'"  P"' 

•— ed  it  the  sam;oxc'  :?"■;'  r'"?''"'   '""''   '""i 
•nelcm,,  d„„g«|  i,,",;  rm""  """/   I*"""-!  <l"- with 

™^umro  I  nut  „„  til  "■„''  '"""""Ic.',  and  all  ti,e 

water  carted  ,  it  fi.„T  ,'  T"'"  '",  "'"  '"'"'  "^  '!'« 
""mediately.  ,  ougl  ^d"  tl'"  "'/'«""-■'■-''■  I'  -".^ 
t'-  i.ill  seven  fee    Irti    1    >?'''''''''■'"««' '" 

'"-dt„u.a,.v:;^:';'^  ;:•  t;;,:r'r''"'r"°"- 

>»y  cattle  into   it,    |,e  fit,  ^f   r         ■  "^  '"""^'1 

"tl.cr,  who  Lave  s     n  i  tt     ,      n'l      '™  ■''"'""''  »"'' 
■".Sl;t  i,ave  cut  a  Un,  toll,:'     i-     "\ L'li,"::';;,?"  "'  ' 

"Ot  be  turne  irt'il  'lrf°f  "'"'•  ^""^  ■^'-W 
"ver..toel.ed  .  .o  tilat  I  er  ^i' ;:':.■;'!"'  '"""  -' 
grass  to  go  to  seed  wl.lM,  .  >     ^°   "P"'"  »f 

stocke,!  V  iti,  g,,.sr  Ah  1  '"'  "'"  P"-^""-'  '"«" 
witl,  grass.     l"f  you  c„  I'^.    "^  ?;"'''P''^'"™  ^'"cked 

-w  on  Timoth/and  r^  '  td  i  *"  '"'?'  °"""-  ""•-• 
.vcar.     :  pi-eler  to  do  ,,        f'  ''"'^  "  '"-  »"ce  u 

"-vlM-c!,ro7ar     ,f;,'    V    *'''"''.n"'»^ 
•> ' ''  "•'<-  '"Oi't  at  Jeisure  will  do  " 

Anotier   experienced    farmer  savs  •  ""OM  . 

slionld  be  ploughed  and  planted  when  'fl  ^''^"'"^ 

■;>->^^''  for  those  operatioL  Th  '  m.  '7  1  "*'  '"" 
•'own  in  July  among  corn  or  bL?  '  ^''^".''^ '^^^'^''-l 
sown  with  the  ^rassled  "/..JlT '  ?•-  ^''-"   "^-  l'<^ 


\ve  have  too  much 


grass-seed  in  the  foil 


owi 


rough  pasture  unfit  for  tl 


ng  spring.     But 
plough. 


le 


i 


358 


PHACTICAL     KXPKUJK^CE. 


••"•>'  ---'^'^^  well  c.n  ch':  ,  ^::/^''-  1^'-^^-  ,eno. 
";'t  ^--tJ'  And  another •  ''  |,  \T  ""^■''  ^''"■^'''  ^^'--^^ 
P'anted  old   pastures,  ...d  tlu  n     '  ,  ?'''  J''""«'""'  ='"'' 

"  ^^^f -•  ''^  ploughing  v:,-,:  Z  ""'•  ^^"^'■^^'■""'  ^^^^>''^  •• 

-ed  and  grain  in  .^epten      'V  I'T'"^^  ^'''""  «'-^- 
"^'"■nre,  after  remov^,.     ''  Z  ^f*'"'''  "T  P'^^S'l-ing  i„ 
'•'■'-M>louglM-n  the  sp  •„!'  /   "^'^"  fUTound,and 
«■■''"•-,  Ht  the  rate  of  t  ux-elunX?'''''^  'J'"^  ''^""'•^'^^  '" 
«  8-ood  dressing  of  comnnV  ^^  ''"""^'^  P^''  ««^e,  or 

'•;:  '-'^op,  and^^;  ^"^t;;';;  --^^'-le  island  bent 

f  «-.seed  and  harroivin^-  Tt  7  ^  """;''  '""^  ^^"^^"'"^^  ''" 
'^'•*'^^  P«"'^^J^s  of  g„„,,  "^  ' ;  f'";^PPlving  throe  h„n- 
«*^It.   or  ashes  iu^r^^n'l       ''"'  ''"'^  °"«  P^ck  of 

^-•••ow  and   Lush  th^;:;.r";,^  '"'^"t    ^^^  -- 
sprnig."  ^'"""f'-     ^Sow  early  i„    f:^i,  ^; 

I"  K'-Kla-l,  -vliore  ol,l T.!,  i    ^r!  "^, ',''"  l''»".';l'-     But 
Lave   k„o,v„    e.vt,,,„nl  „a,y  'e     1,  't  ™  '"■'"'•'="  "I''  I 

;-od  ,vl,i,3  olover,  „„.,  :,,M  ;  7'»  P"--  ac,o,„„,, 
tidil  pasture.     Tlio  bri.st,  l,„  "  """«  ont  a  l)enn- 

;'"  ^''■as^ia,,,,  ,•„ :,, "  ,r::r""  r""'"""'^^  "- 

'»'-•     Broaki,,,  an,  .p'J.h'n;  L  ^-I  ^  7"-''  «"•  "- 

8  LHc  cattle  droppings  oi 


)n 


'^"nng-,  hnt 
^nvh  i-oiiol, 
i-^tor  (it  tli(! 
ister  gene- 
"■'iiL'li  are 
"g'ltMl  and 
t'lo  cattle 
f'lnners  of 
'<"),  sajs  : 
\vn  grass- 
igliing  f„ 
'tnid,  and 
arrow  in 
''  acre,  or 
"i<l  bent, 
«  variety 
JAving-  in 
reo  Inin- 
peck  of 
or  acre, 
fall  or 

I'vation 
'•     But 

'1  up,  I 
ressing 

large 
i^e  you 
'cd  an 
ng  of 
e,  and 
l)eau- 
ed  to 
r  the 
gs  on 


USE    OF    I'LASTKU. 


tl 


351> 


10   pasture    land 


niethodw  of 
alluded  to  liereaft 


IH 


^voll  worth  attending   to."      Tho 


Ai; 


renovating  pastures  by  ton-.l 
L'reafter. 


ressing  will  be 


'inor  ofMas.sachusett 


^eentli  (juestioii  of  tl 


Tii 


'e  circular 


s  says,  in  answer  to  tl 


le  six- 


I'^'Pcnds  on  the  kind  of  land  to  b 


c  reclainu-d. 


"'  it  can  be  ploughed   I  wi.nM    .1        i     •  " "'• 


h'n 

St( 

nt'  tl 

M'ai 
tu 


tl 


ion  sow  it  t 


iig  else,  to  make  it  mell 


(>   li'i-ass. 


"y  to  plough,  — which  istl 


If  it 


»o  pasturing  in  thi 


secti 


le  case  with  a  1 


ow  and 
Js   too  rough  ()!• 


/    : "to   '"  ""«  section, 

m  land,  I  would  Iced  it  with 


but 


»rge  share 


is  (> 


ood. 


re   o 


f  tl 


^]^  description,    that,  a    f 


lecp.      I    J 


sweet. 


covered  with  briers  an.l  bushes  so  tl 


■ew    \eaT: 


'"ve  a  pas- 


but 
put  oi 
it    for  f 


very  little  grass  ui)on  it.     I 
1  ^beep  enough  to  eat  eveiything  Tl 


lick  that  tl 
cut  off  the  b 


ago,    wa.' 
10 'e  wa,- 


oui 


br 

plaster  of  Pj 


o'-  «ve   years.     They  have    1 


ii^he.s,  an<| 
g  that  grew  ujx  ;i 


■'ers,  and  most  of  the   busl 


les. 


I  1 


'ii-is,  which  is  all  I  have  done  t 


Killed  all    th 
lave  sowed  son 


le 


one  acre  is   worth  and  will 


<>  it,  and  now 


th 
ha 


roe  would  ten  year 


produce  more   feed    tl 


ve  always  done  well  o,,  tl 


ige-     I  should  say  that  my  si 


iian 


cold  fjnd  wet,  and 

go,  and  never  try  to  reel 

buildinas.  or  uonv  +J,^  ,..-7i 


lis 


niy  sheep 


pasture.     If  the  land 
cimcd  to  grow   bushes    1  I 


IS 


let   it 


"m  it,  unless  it  is  near  th( 


f '  7  "^^^^»-  tlie  village,  where  the  1 


case   It 


J'igb.     in  that 

into  good  smooth  land. 

Anotlier  practical  farmer,  of 


may  pay  to  ditc 


nid   is  verv 


I   and 


\\( 


Jv-     1 1, 


We 


lave  a  variety  of  soil  in  tl 


great  experience,  aayi 


,  "J      "•     ""11     in      1,111 

he^t  of  pasture  lands,  stony  soil 


MS  town :  s 


ome  of  th 


^oil.     Plaster  of  P, 


P 


workj. 


most  admirably 


'^^^'o  hundred  pounds  to' tl 


th 


generally  day  sub- 

'ns^.s  our  renovator  for  pasturage. 

'^"••^^■'on  almost  all   of  our  lands. 

>e  acre,  applied  once  in  two 


;:ri:i:;,:rrrct:;i-- 


iif.. 


i  'I' 


360 


RHNNING    UP    TO    WOOD. 


usf^.l  IS  ^',  I,  rice  111  small  pieces,  and  then  stock  Imrd 
with  sheep.  Feed  it  duuii  till  no  green  tl.i,,.-  remains  • 
then  tnrn  the  sheep  ol}'  days  and  on  nights  till  S.ptem^ 
her;  tlirn  harrow  the  land  with  a  sharp  harrow,  and 
sow  on  gi-ass.seed,  keer.in-  *Ue  cattle  oil'  the  remainder 
ot  the  season." 

"  It  will  improve  an  old  i)astnre  merely  to  plough  and 
re-seod  i(,  without  manure,"  says  another;  "  hut  this  is 
a  shjw  mode,  and  not  to  be  recommended  where  it  is 
possible    to   apply   some   sort   of   dressing.      A   better 
method   .s,  without  doubt,  to   plant  lor  a  year  or  two 
manunng  well,  before  sowing  grass-seed.     The  soil,  bv 
being   thus  thoroughly  stirred  and   exposed  to  atmos- 
pheric  influences,  will   give  a  sweeter  grass,  and  per- 
i.jM- more  of  It.     But  it  is   not  always  convenien;  to 
plan    a  part  of  a  past :.re.     In  such  cases  giv  ,t  benefit 
would    result   from   simply   ploughing,    manuring,  and 
seeding  to  grass  immediately." 

But  perhaps  the  best  disposition  that  can  be  made  of 
many  of  our  poor,  thin  pasture  lands,  and  one  which 
has  incidentally  been   alluded  to,  is  to  take  the  rattle 
from    them    entirely,  and    cultivate    them   with    forest 
trees.     This  is  frequently  recommended,  i„  answer  to 
the  nuest.on   propo^.   .    in   the   circular.      One   farmer 
spe^ik,.  ,n  the  following  words  :  '■  Old,  worn-out  pasture 
lands     hat  cannot   be   renovated  by  gypsum  or  ashes, 
l'.ul  better  bo  suffered  to  run  up  i.  wood.     Pine  lands 
can  be  seeded  ,n  the  fail  with  a  crop  of  winter  rye,  or 
wi  hout      Pine-seed  can  be  obtained  by  takinu'  pains  to 
collect  the  burrs  before  .  ;oy  are  open,  and  drving  them 
m    some    p.ace  wI      o   they  can   be  threshed:     This  is 
wlute-pine-seed  yt 

This,  I  am  con  ce<i,  .ill  be  found  to  be  perfectly 
I'mcticable,  and  a  rapid  growth  of  pi...  wood,  inter- 
mixed, as  ,t  should  always  be,  with    some   deciduous 


CULTL'RE    OF    PI 


NES. 


3G1 


stock  liiird 
H"  rem;  I  ins  ; 
ill  Septeiu- 
iirow,  and 
Jt'iujiinder 

'lough  and 
luit  this  is 
^liL'ie  it  is 

A  better 
iir  or  two, 
lie  soil,  In- 
to atnios- 
,  and  per- 
■onient  to 

t  benefit 
ring,  and 

3  inadr  I  (' 
'Ue  which 
he  cattle 
th  forest 
nswer  to 
0  farmer 
t  pasture 
or  ashes, 
lie  lands 
r  rvc.  Of 

pains  to 
iiig  them 

This   is 

ierfectl3' 
d,  inter- 
'cidiious 


growth  like  the  white  birch,  will  be  found  to  be  uiore 
prohtablo  than  the  use  to  which  pastures  arc  now  gene- 
rally  put.  " 

i  know  n.any  pastures,  of  good,  strong  soil,  never 
I>  o-ghed  w.thu.  the  memory  ot  the  living,  some  of 
winch  are  known  not  to  have  been  ploughed  ior  a 
hundred  and  htty  years,  which  require  from  eight  to 
ten  acres  to  a  cow,  so  entirely  buried  are  they  in  moss 
and  bushes.  Such  lands  can  be  plante.l  with  pines  at  a 
smal  cost,  a.:  would  soon  be  covered  with  a  growth 
which  woidd  pay  a  large  percentage  on  the  outlay. 

1  have  exammed  over  a  thousand  acres  of  cultivate.! 
pines,  ,n  different  parts  of  the  countrv,  varying  in  age 
roni  three  numths  to  twenty  years,  and  can  testify  to 
the  surprising  rapidity  with  which  such  a  plantation 
will  cover  the  ground,  concealing  the  fact  of  their 
bemg  planted  by  the  hand  of  man,  and  assumin-  the 
appearance  of  a  dense  forest. 

In  one  instance,  the  owner  informed  me  that  his  plan- 
tation had  averager]  him  a  cord  to  the  acre  every  year 
for  twenty  years,  during  which   it  had  been   planted' 
while  the  land,  a  light,  l^arren  sand,  had  apparently  been 
unproved,  and  a  thick  undergrowth  of  hard  wood  was 
evidently  ready  to  succeed  the  j.ine,  when  the  oppor- 
tunity .dlered.     I   have  seen  a  growth  of  pitch  pine 
made  ,n  one  year,  of  over  two  feet  sfv  indies  in  leno-th 
by  measurement,  and  a  growth  of  white  pm.,  made  in 
the  same  tune,  of  two  feet  nine  inches.     Th..  growth  of 
wood   IS   generally  interrupted   by  the  drought,  during 
the   hottest  months  of  summer,  and  then  starts  out  a 
new  growth  in  the  autumn  :  but.  in  very  moist  seasons 
It  continm.s,  with  extraordinary  vigor,  ^11  through   the 
season       J  he   average   growth  would   not,  of  course 
equal  i]-M  .fated  above. 

But  still  th've  are  nicurastances.and  they  are  not  i.y 

31 


fr' 


;i()2 


TRRATMKNT    OF     PASTlfHKa. 


iiiiy  moans  uiirroinicnf,  wUvro  it  is  both  priicticahlo  iiiul 
(losiniM  to  take  ctlKM-  iDctiiods  of  improvements  lor 
|iii>tiire  iiiid  ^Tiiss  lands. 

The  idea  was  roiiiu'il.v  entertained  that  pasture  lands 
were  sullieiently  enri.  li,d  |,y  the  aniiuals  whieh  led 
them.  Trartieal  men  Im-Iii  U,  think  otherwise;  lor  it 
is  lound  tliat  a  prolitahle  return  is  maih-  h.r  the  little 
outhiy  whi(d.  they  re.piire  I'artieularly  is  this  the  case 
with  pastures  led  l.y  nnj.ji  eows.  They  do  not  return 
the  essential  elements  of  the  plant  to  llie  nround  in  so 
large  a  proportion  to  what  they  take  from  it  as  some 
other  animals.  These  elements  are  recjuired  in  great 
<iuantities  to  form  their  nn'Ik.  while  in  other  animals 
they  are  reciuired  only  to  Ibrni  hone  and  muscle.  The 
manure  made  by  cows  is,  therefore,  less  valuable  and 
fertilizing  than  that  of  some  other  animals.  The  con- 
serjuence  is,  that  lands  fed  wholly  by  cows  are  exhausted 
sooner  than  those  fed  by  other  animals.  For  it  is  evi- 
dent  that  when>  more  is  taken  from  the  soil  than  is 
returned,  exhaustion  must  follow. 

Wo  furnish  animal  and  vegetable  matters  to  the  earth 
to  supply  it  with  substances  which  the  growth  of  plants 
has  taken  from  it.  It  will  be  obvious,  on  a  moment's 
reflection,  that  the  constituent  parts  of  the  plant  are 
taken  up  from  the  earth  and  the  air,  in  somewhat  the 
same  manner  as  our  food  and  drink  l>ecome  our  bone  and 
flesh.  The  analogy  is  still  more  distinct  when  we  reflect 
that  all  our  applications  for  the  improvement  of  the  soil 
are  nothing  more  than  the  supply  of  food  for  plants.  . 
^^)r  the  food  of  plants  is  foun<l  in  all  manures,  and  the 
value  of  these  depends  ni)on  the  quantity  they  contain. 
The  methods  of  renovating  mowing  and  pasture  lands 
by  means  of  top-dressings  do  not  essentially  diifer.  An 
interesting  experiment  fell  under  my  observation  not 
long  ago,  where  common  meadow  mud,  rich  barn  and 


ticahlo  and 
mients  for 

■it me  lands 
wliich  led 
ist'  ;  for  it 
•  the  little 
is  the  case 
not  return 
ound  in  so 
t  as  some 
<l  in  groat 
er  animals 
'Cle.  The 
liable  and 
The  con- 
exhausted 
r  it  is  evi- 
)il  than  is 

the  earth 

1  of  plants 

moment's 

plant  are 
ewliat  the 
•bone  and 
we  rellect 
of  the  soil 
Ibr  plants. 
■J,  and  the 
y  contain, 
ture  lands 
litter.  An 
ation  not 
barn  and 


MIXTUHE    OF    SOILS. 


liiMiid 


<lre>siii! 


>n  dill 


was  hauifMl  out  in  tl 


3G3 

ere  used  as  a  top- 
'•'•i^nt  parts  of  the  same  Held.     Tlie  nnid 


manure  impreu;nated  with  1 


nne,  u 


there  left  to  the  action  of  the  I 


It)  autiniui  and  thrown  in  I 


tor.     1 


U  8 


pnng  it  was  spread  about  tl 


<'ther  manure  was  apjjlied 
top  t 


o  wlilcli 


the 


mud 


leaps,  ami 

I'osts  and  snows  of  win- 

10  same  time  the 

Hceni,  the 


Mranj-e  as  it  mav 


I'est  advanfiige.     Tl 

crop  had  been  removed,  tl. 

the  mud  was  applied   came 


was  applied  appealed  to  lar  tl 
le  grass  was  heavier,  and,  alter  tl 


le 
le 


I'iitntiv  than   tl 


':'t  part  of  the  Meld  on  which 
ill  more  cpiickly  and   luxi 


■<oil,  which  had  not  i 


'0   rest.     This  Held  was  a  I 


M 


been  under  very  high  cultivat 


irave 


lly 


and 


ii'V  ot  our  soils   are   gravellv,  witi 


ion. 


The 


mu( 


o  soils  need  a  mixt 


I-     Marl  and  mud  contain  the  carl 


1  a  mixture  of 
me  of  marl  and  meadow 


•ases  the  sulphate  of  I 


a  mixture  of  clav,  whici 


"I'le,  or  plaster  of  Pi 


)oiiate,  or  in  some 


"'^  "'  ^"ly,  wnicn  sandy  ( 

On  these  soils  clayev  mud  has  I 


mdy  oi 


aris,  an 


id  oft 


en 


best.     Peat 

small 

iiabl 


gravelly  soils  need, 
■en  found   to  do  the 


'."'"'   ';"'  '^   '■'••1'   vegetable   food  :  and   if 


proportion  of  potash,  or  ashes,  be  added 


e  as  a  mnimre 


it  is  val- 


Liglit  soil 


s  are  alwav.s 


whieh  make  them  Hr 


soils 


cxn  the  other  hand,  are  ben.^fi 


""P'-oved  by  any  substances 
eompact.     Stiff  clay 


nier  and  more 


which  make  them  light 


of  the  tl 


nee  kinds  of  e;irtl 


or  and  tnon 


immixed  with  the  oti 


f^'*'   by  applications 

permeable.    No  one 

md,  clay,  and  lime,  when 


sui)porting  vegetation.    Tl 
one  predoiniiifites,  will 


'er  varieties,  would  I 


le  mixture  of  them,  wl 


'0  capable  of 


correct  and 


it  is  well  known  that  the  fertil 


len  any 

improve  them;  since 


the  relative 


proportions  of  their  dim 


ity  of  soils  depeixls  up 


on 


prod 
Tl 


ommatcs,  and  tl 
le  practice  of  mix 


erent   constituents. 

iuates,  and  these  should 

the   sanrl 

are  adapted  to  stiffer  Innds. 

"ig  sods  has  always  been  attended 


In  some  marls  the  clay  predom ..„,  ,.„.  „ 

euse.,  on  the  l^ht,  sandy  soils:  in  o;;,:: 


lese  a 


I" ''  ■ 

i  5 


r '  i. 


r  .     I 


I     i 


364 


TEXTURE    OF    THE    SOIL. 


with  success  when  judiciously  managed,  and  it  offers  a 
practicable  means  of  iniprovement. 

Xor  is  tin"s  a[)plicaiion  of  mud  and  clav  any  new  flict 
to  the  practical  agriculturist.     The  county  of  Norfolk, 
in  England,  is  said  to  owe  much  of  its  great  fertility  to' 
this  source.     The  greatest  European  improvements  in 
sandy  soils  have  been  made  by  these  means  in  Beloium. 
As  mtimated  in  the  experiment  alluded  to,  it  has  always 
been  found  best  to  expose  the  mud  or  clay  to  the  action 
of  the  frost.     It  becomes  mellowed  so  that  it  may  be 
spread  evenly  upon  the  ground.    Peat  mud  is  compoocd 
of  vegetable  matter  which  has   been  accumulating  for 
ages.      When    taken   fresh   it  ih    found  to  contain   itn 
amount  of  acid  whicli  would  make  it  improper  for  im- 
mediate use.     Exposure  to  the  frost,  wind,  and  rain, 
will,  in   time,  entirely   neutralize   the  acid  properties! 
Ashes,  or  potash,  would  have  the  same  effect  in  a  much 
sliorter  time. 

These  substances  may  be  said  rather  to  ameliorate 
and  improve  the  texture  of  soils  than  to  furnish  imme- 
diate sustenance  to  the  plant.     And  in  this  view  thev 
cannot  be  too   strongly   recommended;    for  we    have 
never  known  them  to  fail  of  having  beneficial  effects, 
both  on  pasture  and  mowing  lands.     And,  besides,  the 
application  of  them  is  so  sim[)le,  so  much  within  the 
reach  of  every  farmer,  that  it  is  well  worth  the  trial. 
If  the  soils  are  much  worn,  or  very  barren  from  a  great 
prepondeiance  of  any  particular  earth,  a  liberal  allow- 
ance will  be  rerpiired  ;  but,  ordinarily,  as  in  the  experi. 
ments  which  have  come  under  my  notice,  some  twentv- 
five  or  thirty  cart-loads  to  the  acre  have  been  fouiid 
sufficient  to  increase  very  greatly  the  productiveness 
of  the  land,  while  a  still  less  quantity  would  be  of  essen- 
tial service.     Nor  is  the  expense  of  this  application  so 
great  as  some  imagine  ;  for  almost  every  fiirm  contains  a 


i  * 


USE    OP    LIME. 


id  it  offers  a 


3G5 


at  a.  d.  It  may  be  removed  and  nreiiaieil  it  l 
»ea.o„  o.  the  ye»,-  when  there  ,«  l,„t  litt  e  i  to  do 
n,e^expe,.e,  therefore,  „eed  „ot  deter  any  one  from 

"■hi"'  acs 'b'^th".:"'"  '"Y'"'"  "l"""^-  »---'''«. 
tl  e  soil        ,  f  h  ™  '"""'•"'■■''"•■  '""i  a  fertilizer  of 

All    ^' '*' P^haps.  one  of  the  clieapest  and  mo.t 
priilitable   top-dress  uo-s      It  ,^  ii       ■  ■    , 

the  efFpft  nF  fi.i.  i  ^u         "^^^'^  '^"e  lias  observed 

uie  enect  ot  tiie  loam  thrown   otit  unon   tJm  n-..       • 

;;  :':^;e;"t;;  -r,t  --^i  "-^  "■»  ^''-  -» "-": 

ul  ellect.    For  this  conlams,  besides  the  putrescent  ■„,( 
nia   ma  ters  trom  the  road.a  qnantitv  of  fine  sa,  d      h    il 

the  su  face.    .Spread  upon  such  soils  when  covered  with 
Ki-ass,  ,t  ,s  very  efScacious,  and  often  makes  the       "eta' 
.on  as  vigorous  as  stimulating  maiime.    E.periiiKnt, 
.ave  clears-  shown  that  the  effeet  of  sand  on  iom    so" 
IS  to  operate  as  a  miinure. 

us;d"a?f,"rd ''""•'*'  """I""'"'"""'  ''"»  -^""'etimes  been 
used  as  a  o,,.dressing,     Its  effect  arises  not  so  much 
i.o  n  any  due.t  nutriment  furnished  by  it  to  the  Zs 
-    .-..n,  lis  influence  on  the  substances  in  the    oil      It' 
hasten,  the  decomposition  of  vegetable  and   mter 
matters  ,n  the  earth  ;  and  in  this  w„v  it  may  be  said 
.■enew  exhausted  soils.     It  increases  the  tempe    tu  ' 
ooW.  sour    ands,  after  being  drained,  and  L    ,"  a 
'ap.-l  decay  of  peat  substances.     Hence  its  use  in  tli! 
ompost  heap.    It  destroys  the  mosses  and  coarse    e,t 

want  of  lime  in  tho  soil.     It  produce,  from  them  a  ."no 

ol* 


N  !.  m 


3(;() 


EFFECT    OF    LIME. 


vegetable  mould,  by  causing  the  white  and  red  clover, 

and  son-io  natural  grasses,  to  come  in  thicker  and  thicker 

each  year.     Lime  pioihices  a  nn.re  marked  ellect  on  the 

grasses   than  .„i  any  other  crop.     It   seems,  very  fre- 

(luently,  (.,  inn-ease  the  nutritive  quality  of  the  grasses, 

as  well  as  to  increase  their  quantity,  by  assisting  theni 

to  elaboraJp  the  juices,  the  albuminous  substances,  and 

tiie  sugar,  in  which  their  value  as  food  for  stock  lar^elv 

consists. 

But  lime  can  never  supply  the  place  of  other  manures. 
Ihere  are  properties  which  it  cannot  supply,  which  plas- 
ter can  ;  others  which  it  cannot  supply,  as  bones  can: 
and  othe.s  winch  it  cannot  supply,  like  ashes,  and  ma- 
nures that  contaiu  salts.    There  are  situations,  however 
in  winch  It  is  invaluable.     On  reclaimed  meadow  lands! 
after  thorough  draining,  and  a  covering  of  three  or  four 
im^hes  of  gravel,  a  top-dressing  of  lime  has  a  beneficial 
ettect.     Crops  of  grass  of  two  and  three  tons  to  the 
acre  have  been  taken  after  such  a  dressing  of  lime     In 
many  cases   H.e  first  crop  will  repay  the   expense  of 
brmgingsuch  land  into  cultivation.    In  these  situations, 
then,  as  well  as  on  many  pastures,  it  may  be  called  one 
of  the  most  useful  applications  that  can  be  made.    Such 
lands  wdl   bear  an  abundant   supply  of  lime   without 
exhaust.on      But  on  poor,  sandy  soils  it  should  never 
be  used.     It  will  soon  exhaust  and  may  render  them 
competely  barren.     When  it  meets  with  clay  in  lands 
to  w  ,ch   ,t   ,s  applied,  it  forms  a  kind  of  marl,  and 
greatly  nnproves  the  texture  of  the  soil :  but,  when  it 

ZnZ  '"i5°"^-V""l  '""^' ''  ''^™^'  -^'-'  -  -'-t  of 

I.me,  a..d  on  these  a  further  application  is  not  needed. 
No  definite  rule,  with  respect  to  the  amount  required 
can  be  given.     It  must  depend  upon  the  natnrp  U  the 


id  red  clover, 
3r  and  thicker 
1  eU'ect  on  the 
'Ills,  very  fre- 
>t'  the  gTiLsses, 
ssisting  tliem 
bstaiices,  and 
stock  largely 

her  manures. 
)^,  which  plas- 
I  bones  can ; 
^hes,  and  ma- 
)ns,  however, 
eadow  lands, 
:hree  or  four 
3  a  beneficial 

tons  to  the 
of  lime.    In 

expense  of 
le  situations, 
le  called  one 
made.    Such 
me  without 
lould  never 
ender  them 
lay  in  lands 
f  marl,  and 
lut,  when  it 
r,  a  sort  of 
s  on  sandy 
quantity  of 
)t  needed, 
it  required, 
ture  o.f  the 


USE    OF    ASHES. 


36; 


1  he  additioij  of  lit,.,,  f     j.i 
great  n„p,,,.,,,  :''"■::, --P^f/'-p  ,-,,  „rte„  ,,,■ 

farmers  would  bear  in  mind  thif  ...i        '"'^P^"'^'^-     ^^ 
«^  +u       1  iiiinu  tnat  ashes  contain    mn<f 

i  :,,£;r;;  ;ti;,',f '  ;":■"■■-"■  "-■"■-' 

lent  .l„,.., I    l'_°  '"""    ''*':^  ™-  »  "-"P  "f  excel- 


over,  where  for 


unproductive 


voaru 


the  land  had  been  almost 


\:h^l 

|t^^ 

■    -, 

'■    1 

I 

i 


368 


LEACHED  AND  UNLEACHED  ASHES. 


cro'^pTrerr^'"  """  '""'^^^  ^>^  -'-«  than  other 

wZ; .  \  -■'''""''  "  «''^''^t*^^'  ^^'"^"•'t  of  the  sails 

w  Midi  {isiies  eontfim      T^r>..  ..ii  ^aiis 

eopeoially  on      e    idl"   "" '"""7"^'"'  '»»"-i"g lands, 

Acaii     „g  to  Professor  LieWc  witi,  pv„,,.  * 

d.ed  u.,d  ,en  po„„d,  of  leached  a    e    „f    P  '"" 

l.eecl,.t,.ee,  spread  upon  the    o  I   we  fur,?  :'""""." 
P  osp,..e  as  «ve  hldred  and 's:;,;";;^  "or,',: 
iichest   manures    could    yield       \nvv    Ji  '/'^  ^"^ 

'"■gWy  useful  to  all  kh,ds 'of  soil  '  ''"'"'"'   "^ 

akes  ,ro,„  the  ashes  a  part  of  their  fertilizir,^  prone,? 
t^es     For  mauy  uses  this  i,  „o  oljecti,,,,.     eZ7JL 

o  LVt  r  ™"  "'''  "-^  '"''  '''""■'  l^'ohedthts  a  ^ 
tTu7:r"  I"  ""r"  ""'^  ---able,  as  the 
ftem  f!  ''"'"'P''?'-'^,  *«  "»■■«  ■•^"'lily  ooml,i„es  ,vith 
tliem     E>eo-  practical  man  has  heard  of  the  „„,az,„„ 

effects  which  bone.d„st  has  upon  the  soil.     Yet  th     ! 

aluable  c  lefly  for  the  phosphate  it  contains.     B,,    if 

ve  m,^,-  rely  upon  the  statement  of  Professor  Mcbij 

be.     Bnt,  suppose  we  allow  four  bushels  of  leached 
ashes  ,0  one  bushel  of  crushed  bone-,  the  e.perso  of 


ES. 

'  than  other 
'f  the  suits 
'wirig  lands, 
among  the 
n  su/liciont 
ci,  countries 

carried  to 
lie  matters 
^  or  bones, 

iiereafter. 
ui'ope  and 

to  tlie  use 

held  in  so 
i.-^taiice  of 
■di'esHing. 

one  hun- 
'  common 

as  much 
da  of  the 
!)ates   are 

leaching 
r  proper- 
I^pecially 
ishes  are 
e,  as  the 
nes  with 
amazing 
it  this  is 

But,  if 

Lit'big. 
os})hate 
y  valua- 
leached 
Bnse  of 


ASHES    AND    PEAT    UUD.  359 

ul  expon,„.„t,   b^  p,,,,„,,,  co„»e,.vutiv„     ,0,;    ^^ 
that  land  pro.lu.nig  one  to.i  to  the  acre   1,., 

™p™ved  .y  t,,,. ,  .a„.  as  ,„  ,,■.ld^:;:  t,;t"t,: 

«■«.      -Vltere  tlurt^  bushels  weie  u.ed  „„  three-fbu,  h^ 
of  an  acre,  ,n  one  instance,  the  crop  w     i,„  ,  '     a 
tllan  three.fold.     Xor  are  loich,  7    <"    '""',''!"«<'  '"°"> 
objections  which  .  re  rt  sed  In  "'''"-l^'y™'  <-°  ">« 

Itao.     They  ,lo  n  t  a™  'T'  "S"'"^'  ""'  "»«  °f 

effect  of  ti  0  u  s  fe  tTr         ■'  ,""""""  ""-■  ""''■     ■""^ 

ter  as  a  top-dressing  for'h e'd    e    .^  .  strf  "  ,';''• 

it  it;:o;e:.'irertT,°'r  f  *"  "^^  °f  p-'  ™^. 

mud  in    he   pZcrtiorr      "'"  ""'■'■'"  "i""!  with 

ti.o„«h  litr  je'^i^,:;;;:-  f:f, '"  "^  "'""■""■ 

application  to  the  soH  If  !.  ,  I  ,  ''""'«'  "''  "" 
Proportion  tna,  I'lnt'^t^t  t.^^  T  l^' ^'.'^ 
th»  two  substances  ^ntuall,  assist  each  otbe,  :,:dth: 


I 

\  i'  ■ 

'  1 

• 

U  f 


f; 


if* 


370 


USE    OF    SEA-WEKD. 


J::^^tjz:-::i::^.-^^ -« •»  t,. 

ill'--  flip  ...1.,  L'i>\tta  .us  a  lumiure,  an,    sureafl- 

'   even  forfv  cart-loads  to  thp  «r...o  ^^^ '  "'' 

Pr-.t  «.!.■      r  acre,  are  .sometimes  anr)Iie(l 

1        .       „     '^'111,  lu  some  cases,  a  verv  vi  ii.iMr.  *■ 

^  ui    iuiiy  on  the  heavier  t<oi  s.  tliev  -vMI  1...  oi 
dantly  repaid.  '        *^  "*^  ^''""■ 

If  what  has  been  said  be  trup  —  -mri  ,f ;   *u 
ma;,-  ..pe,™e„.,  3„.e  „f":Ll,      l '  '0^7^^^' 
under  mv  own  observHtinn       e  ^^t.  come  directly 

buy  ash;.,  on  the  reJ  r'J     ™'"  "*"'^^  ^^'  '^^^^-  ^'> 

th4  as  i    often  .1  "'•^'  'f'""^'  *^»^^"  to  «eil 

II. -Hi,  as  IS  Often  done  in  noiie  spoHnrx  ,.f  *i 

my  observation  ffoes  —  -mrl  t  \        V"7^^^-     ^^  far  as 


r  alone  would 

l<es  H  VciluabJe 

mude  to  the 
«;  itnd  spread- 
l  They  form 
it  the  process 

most  fertiliz- 
cient  mode  of 
!'»e  grass  as  a 
kelp  decay  in 
1^  and  are  no 
^fist  on  sandy 
to  thirty,  or 
imes  applied, 
k'ai  liable  top- 
>lland,  where 
'at  ashes,  as 
earned.    The 
lany,  and  if 
on  grass,  at 

lift'liter,  and 
vill  be  abuii- 

he  result  of 
me  directly 
do  better  to 
■han  to  sell 
lie  country. 
i*,  the  most 
So  far  a< 
n  and  tried 
8  soils  and 
Is  has  been 
'  does  nul 


PLASTEK     OK     PARIS. 


371 


l^enefit  natural   {)astures      'J'l,;.    r 

^•'!ie%  on  the  character\,f  t  :^,i^''T  "''-'^^^"^'^ 
-n.e  won.  and  ;;^wh  "^  '"?"'^/  "'''^■''  ^""1  '"- 
generous  top-dressin^i-plasr  ^^'^^'  "^^'^'^^  " 
;:-'"er,  and  continued  thron..:],., ,(  tu  ^""'  '''"'^"' 
<ar  better,  than   the  adiob.in  ^''^' ■'^oason   to    h,ok 

— -ii.  So  far^::  Hi  ^tri' ''■-•-'>' ^i- 

i-  grass  over  the  adjoin  .  .  ^  r'^""^';  ^'""  '"— 
«ve  per  cent.  Xo,;,„  .i^ii  '""?•" ''  '''""'  ^^"^-^^"O" 
ti'o  next  season  with  the  '.n'e ■, 'to  ■  l"  '''•""'''  "*''""'" 
'oad  of  beautiful  green  v    ,   %  "X"nanee,  and  its 

hood.     Itsetleeton;     ;::,     ""/'''^^-^"^''--ig 

tl.an  on  old  pastures      M  ,'  ;  /^  ^  """^''^' ''^  ^^'^^  .^'-eater 
--Id  exha 'st  t  e  soil      f  b  ;7.  ■■"^'''"■^^''  ^'"^^  P^-^- 

e-willappearfrr;;     ,i'     ..--"^V'"V''^^^ 
^^"^'  thirty  parts  of  water  to  d  '"' ^'""^^''^^ 

plaster,  while  its  decon  posi   on    '""T''  T  ^"''^  ''' 
enee  is  felt  for  scn-eral  ve  h,"^  f''  *''^^^  '^'^  ^"A- 

-h  immediate  and  be.n^;-^em:^;''^;'rV^'T 
matte,-,  and  gives  it  „,M  '™"""t"ig  v-gcfaM., 

-„t  „'f  ti,o';,a ,'  rd„r,rHbe"'i' '"■"■"  "■""■'■^''■ 

teWe  matter.,  to  <leoav    h„,  ^^1  '""'  ?'""  ™P'- 

..ci^  .>.i.  „„.  i.p„:;;n:;*  r  tr^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^  "-»-- 

aec„r,.,„K  to  the  «e„eran;     e  li ! ,  '";;;.L:^  "™»';?. 


J..  •" 


■  Ml 


372 


OPINIONS    OF    SCIENTIFIC    MKN. 


a.ninonia  which  it  contains.  Ammonia,  ccmmonly  known 
iM  hartshorn,  is  an  exceedingly  powerful  st'iniulant. 
.Nor  will  It  appear  unimportant,  when  we  bear  in  mind 
tliat  tw„  and  oncpmrter  pounds  of  tl)is  ammonia,  lost 
by  fermentation,  is  equal, according  to  some,  tc.  the  loss 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  of  grass  or  grain. 

fc^cientific  men  will  say  that  this  gas  is  taken  up  in  the 
atmosphere  by  the  rain,  and  descends  with  the  rain  to 
fertilize   the   earth;    and   this  is   probably  true.     This 
ammonia,  so  valuable,  so  indispensable  to  the  earth,  is 
not  lost  forever  when  it  flies  away  into  the  air;  but  the 
shrewd  farmer  will  perceive  that  as  much  of  it  as  he 
allows  to  escape  from  his  own  hands,  by  neglect,  falls 
upon  and  improves  the  fields  of  his  neig'hbor  as  much, 
and  perhaps  more,  than  his  own.     Is  it  not  evident  that' 
l>y  saving  all   that  we   can,  and   by  receiving  whatever 
the  genial  ram  brings  with  it,  wo  get  a  double  benefit? 
If  the  effect  of  plaster  is  such  as  has  been  described 
no  one  can  fail  to  see  how  important  are  the  functions 
It  may  be  made  to  perform.     Hut  it  also  adds  a  certain 
amount  of  lime  and  sulphur  to   the   earth.     It  is  com- 
posed ot  these  substances  for  the  most  part,  and  hence 
called  by  chemists  sulphate  of  lime.     I  shall  have  occa- 
«ion   to  speak  of  its  use  in  connection  with  other  ma- 
"ures  in  the  compost  heap,  and  I  now  allude  to  its  use 
by  Itself,  simply  as  a  top-dressing 

On  some  soils  it  is  not  so  satisfactory  as  on  others  : 
but  our  pastures  are,  many  of  them,  covered  with  the 
white  clover  or  honeysuckle,  and  these  are  often  called 
clover  lands.  On  all  such  lands,  whether  reserved  for 
pasture  or  mowing,  plaster  generally  has  a  wonderful 
influence.  A  bushel,  or  two  bushels,  to  the  acre,  have 
been  known  to  double  the  crop,  and  to  add  more  than 
twenty  times  its  own  weight  to  it.  while  even  greater 
results  have  followed.     For,  if  we  may  believe  Bous- 


USE    OP    CHARCOAL. 


373 


Dili}'  known 

stiumlant. 

Jar  in  mind 

rnonia,  lost 

to  the  loss 

L^THJI). 

n  up  in  the 
the  lain  to 
rue.  This 
le  earth,  is 
r ;  but  the 
'f  it  as  he 
gleet,  falls 

iis  much, 
itlent  that, 

whatever 

0  benefit? 
described. 

functions 
a  certain 
ft  is  com- 
nd  hence 
lave  occa- 
other  ma- 
te its  use 

n  others : 
Avith  the 
en  called 
^rved  for 
wonderful 
ere.  have 
ore  than 

1  greater 
I'e  Bous- 


smgault  one  of  the  most  distinguished  chemists,  every 
pound  0    n.trogen  which  we  add  to  the  grass  increascis 
the  produce  one  hundred   and   ten   pounds;    and   thi. 
mcreased  produce  of  one  hun.ired  and  ten  pounds  is 
eftected  by  the  aid  of  a  little  more  than  four  pounds  of 
gypsum,  or  plaster.     Another  accurate  investigator,  Sir 
Humphrey  Davy,  found,  by  actual  experiment,  that  the 
ashes   of  an  acre   of  red   clover   contain  no  less   than 
three  bushels  of  plaster  o*"  Paris.     This  iniportant  fltct 
proves  that  the   earth  already  contains  a  large  anumnt 
o    this  substance,  and  that  it  is  essential  to  the  growth 
of    clover      This  may,   perhaps,   explain  the   so-called 
0  over  sickness  in  some  land.     The  requisite  supply  of 
plaster  has  been  exhausted.     In  any  case,  the  addition 
of  plas  er  to  clover  lands,  and  especially  to  pastures,  is 
of  the  highest  importance. 

The  effect  of  charcoal  is  somewhat  similar  to  that  of 
P  aster.    Charcoal  will  absorb  ninetv  times  its  own  bulk 
of  ammonia,  which   is  held  from  escaping  till  it  is  sep 
amted  by  water,  and  carried  into  the  earth  for  the  plant. 
^V  hen  dry,  the  operation  of  fixing  the  gas  is  repeated 
till  the  next  shower  sends  the  gas  into  the  earth,  and 
che  particles  of  water  take  its  place  in  the  charcoal.     In 
this  ntiy,  as  a  top-dressing,  charcoal,  as  wc^l  as  plaster 
performs  the  most  important  functions.     If  we  take  any 
decaymg  animal  matter,  which  has  begun  to  give  off  its 
offensive   and   noxious   odor,  its  ammonia,  and  cover  it 
with  charcoal  or  plaster  of  Paris,  this  eseapin-  jvns  i^ 
imme.|,ately  stopped.     No  infectious  odor  arises  from 
It.  _  The  decay  of  the  substance  has  sudd.i.lv  ceasod 
1  his  simple  fact  will  show  the  "  .felligent  farmer  to  what 
Pjirposes  these  substances  may  be  applied.     His  choice 
ot  these  should  depend  somewhat  on  the  expense  of 
,         .....^  ..,(  ,n.     ir.Q  iciafive  expense  depends  so  much 
upon  circumstances,  that  I  need  not  make  the  estimate. 
32 


,'    i' 


371 


EFFECT    OF    BONES. 


As  an  absoihont  «in(l  retainer  of  the  valnabi 


)f'  ma 


0  proportlt'rt 


nuro,  peat  mu.l  and  loam  will  also  he  fm.nd  „f 
essential  service.  If  used  on  a  high  and  dry  soil  the 
ettect  u  plaster  will  not  he  very  apparent  the'^first'se  - 
son,  unless  there  are  fre.p.ent  rains. 

There  is  an  impression  an.ong-  many  that  plaster  does 
not  produee  so  good  results  in  the  immediate  vioinitv 
o  the  sea-s  ore.  If  this  is  so,  it  does  not  arise,  prob- 
ably,   from   the  proximity   to  the  sea,  but  fron.  other 

oHlf;    ^^''7/1' r  ^^"'J«  ^-  "«t  need  the  application 
)t  pl.L.te   ,  but  I  have  seen  it  used,  to  the  best  a.lvan- 
age,  w.th.n  two  miles  of  the  sea.     ]f  there  were  anv- 
nng  n.  the  sea  air  to  prevent  plaster  from  performing 
t.  usual    unctions  as  an  absorbent,  ,he  effeet  would  he 
perceived  to  a  far  greater  distance  inland.     If  any  fail! 
ures  have  occurred  in  its  use  in  the  vicinitv  of  the  sea 
tboy  were  probably  owing  to  the  soil  rathe'r  than  to  the' 
Htn  ...p.ere.    There  is  one  other  remark  in  this  connec- 
tH>u,    \/hen  plaster  has  been  applied  without  immediate 
e.icc  ,  we  should  not  at  once  conclude  that  it  is  useless 
on  the  particular  soil  to  which  it  is  applied.     The  first 
season  may  be  dry,  and  ill-adapted  to  its  .lecomposition 
In  such  cases  good  results  have  ordinarily  followed  the 
second  year. 

The   great   utib'ty  of  bones  as  a  manure  arises  from 
the   large  amount   of  phosphates  which   they  contain 
On  all  pastures  which   have  been  long  fed   the   phos- 
phate of  lime  is  exhausted.     It  is  constantly  taken  from 
th.>  earth  in  the  grass,  to  form  the  bone,  the"  muscle,  and 
the  milk   of  animals.     Of  the  earthy  matter  in  bones, 
nearly  five-sixtlis  consist  of  phosphate  of  lime  and  mag' 
nesia.     Nitrogen   is  also  al)undant,  and,  of  course,  am- 
monia, for  nitrogen  is  an  element  of  ammonia.     Afew 
bushels  of  bone-dust  will  often  quite  restore  old,  "worn- 
out  "  pastures.     Indeed,  almost   every  part  of  which 


BONE-MEAL    AND     ASHES. 


375 


projH'rtiort 

iotind  of 

y  soil,  tho 

i  first  sea- 

aster  does 
e  vicinity 
'ise,  prob- 
oiii   other 
f»|>lit'Hti(»n 
•^t  advan- 
veio  any- 
M-fbrrning 
rt'ould  be 
any  i'ail- 
■'  tiio  sea, 
an  fo  tlie 
■!  connec- 
nniediate 
s  nseless 
Tlie  first 
position. 
)wed  the 

5es  from 
contain, 
le  plios- 
:en  from 
H'le,  and 
1  bones, 
nd  niag-- 
rse,  ani- 

A  few 
"worn- 

wiiifli 


bones  are  composed  goes  directly  to  the  nourishment 
of  vegetable  life.  The  asiies  of  all  grains  are  very  rich 
in  itiiosphatc  of  lime.  This  shows  the  importance  of 
furnishing  this  element  for  their  use. 

A  mi.Kture  of  crushud  liones  and  ashes,  or  leached 
ashes,  forms  a  valuid)le  top-dr  ng.  Nor  will  this  ap- 
plication, in  small  (piantities,  thought  expensive,  if 
what  is  said  bo  true,  that  the  animal  part  of  bones, 
whi<;h  amounts  to  alxnit  one-third,  ccjntains  eight  or  ten 
times  as  much  annnonia  as  the  mannif  of  the  cow.  A 
small  quantity  of  bone-dust  will  answer  the  purpose,  in 
some  respects,  of  a  larger  ([uantity  of  manure  from  the 
stable.  We  can  l)ut  hope  that  every  liirmer  will  try 
the  experiment.  It  maybe  done  on  a  small  scale  at 
first,  though  in  the  vicinity  of  (ivery  butcher's  estab- 
lishment bones  can  commonly  be  procured  in  anv 
quantity. 

Thus  far  I  have  s{)oken  of  manures  which  belong 
more  peculiarly  on  the  surfiice,  as  a  top-dressing  foT- 
grass.  For,  though  tiiev  are  sometimes  used,  cspcciallv 
plaster,  on  ploughed  land,  with  potatoes  and  other 
*'rops,  yet  their  inHuence  on  the  surlace  is  thought  to 
be  far  more  ell'ective.  Indeed,  the  benefit  of'lime, 
plaster,  and  charcoal,  would,  in  a  great  measure,  be  lost, 
were  they  to  be  buried  to  any  depth  in  the  earth.  But 
there  are  other  maimies  which  are  often  used  as  tc.p- 
dressings. 

One  of  the  best  practical  farmers  in  the  country  savs. 
'•  I  top-dress  almost  all  of  my  mowing  in  the  Ihll,  cut 
two  crops  on  all  of  them,  and  <m  some  a  third.  I  make 
a  compost  of  earth  and  manure;  make  in  the  lot  where 
it  is  used,  by  ploughing  off  a  thin  turf  on  the  lower 
side  of  a  .small  hill  or  knoll,  taking  the  turts  to  the  hog- 
yard,  and  then  cart  from  the  stable  three,  five,  or  tc!'. 
loads,  or  more,  as  1  have  the  manure.    Drop  the  manure 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


«P. 


/. 


(■/ 


V 


f/j 


fA 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


112.5 


♦"  IM    IIIII2.2 


IIIM 

ijliO 


—    6" 


2.0 


U    llll  1.6 


PhotnPTi^nhir 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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r 


376 


OPINIONS    OP    FARMERS. 


upon  the  ground  that  the  turf  was  removed  irom   then 

plough   on   t  e    upper  .ide  of  the  Inil,  and  «hov"l  t t 

uuchs  ut  earth  upon  each   Juad  of  manure,  beginning    a 

e  spr.ng,  and  so  on  through  the  season,    is  the  ma.ti  e 

ot   the   barn   mcreases,  cart   to  the   meaduu-  placin-.'  it 

.hovel  as    belore.     Fiom   one   ht,nd.-ed   Joads  u?  good 

arable   manure   ,t  makes   three   hundred  loads  of  good 

omjxjst,  and  wdl  make  as  nauch  grass  as  so  many  L.d 

ot  .table  manure.     For  grass,  put  ten   cart-loads   per 

;;    kt    n!  "'   ''"/"^^   "^^"'^   -owing,  this  compo 

"  c  I^e.    more    grass   than    green    manure,   carted   and 

'^  knoll  or  lull  carted  until  it  is  level  with  the  adjoin- 
ing g.ound  produces  more  crop  than  before  "  ^ 

Another  writes  me  as  follows:  -rop-dressing  for 
u.own.g  lands  ,s  very  beneficial,  but  too  expensive  i 
barn-yard  manure  alone  is  used,  so  much  pas'es  off 'b, 
evaporation.  A  compost  of  one-half  or  two-thirds  turf 
or  s.vamp  muck,  arul  one-third  good  manu.e,  is  quite  as 
benehc.al  to  t  e  land,  and  probably  better  or  m'!;  et 
dur.ng  than  a  1  manure.  If  ashes  are  nn^xed  in  this  com- 
post, ,t  .s  all  the  better.    But,  if  stable  manure  allneTr 

ccm.post,  ,s  to  be  applied,  it  shoulo  bo  in  autur,'so 
that  the  frosts  of  w.nter  may  incorporate  it  with  the     . 

s.nt""<'n  ^'T'"'  "^^■'''''  ^^P^'-'«"^^  '-^"d  observation. 

'i)  «  •      I    op-dress  generally  late  in  the  fidl,  but  should 

pre  er  early  spnng   dressing,  if  we   could   'cart  of  J 

fie  rl  w.thout  m,,urv.  and  the  time  could  be  spared  from 

so.  .  and  a  compost  ,s  made  of  one-fourth  stable  manure 
a         ,,.e-four.hsIightIo.m.     For  warm  land.  peat3 

0      .rt  io7    ;"'":^-^!"  'r   '•""•     ^^--^>-ommon 
oxca.t  loads,  from   tlurty-threc   lo   thirty-five    bushels 


&■) 


( 


)cl  I'rom,  tlien 

sliovul  two 
Ijt'giiiniiig-  in 
s  tlia  irmuure 
V,  placing-  it 

piuugji  uud 
tds  of  good 
ids  of  good 

many  Jouds 
I't-loads  per 
Jiti  coiijpost 
carted  and 
■>st  all  cases 

the  adjoin- 

■essing  for 
:peiisive,  if 
sses  off"  by 
tliirds  turf, 
is  quite  as 
f  more  en- 
1  tills  com- 
e  alone,  or 
intumn,  so 
with  the     . 

servation, 
ut  should 
'■t  on  tlie 
u-cd  from 
tenacious 
0  mannn? 
peat  mud 
common 
bushels 


COMPOSITION   OP   POTATO-TOPS. 


377 


each,  to  the  acre,  is  as  small  a  dressing  as  can  bo  judi- 
ciously applied.     Double  that  quantity  would  not  be  ex- 
cessive.      "  With   respect  to  top-dressing  for  mowing 
ands      says  another  practical   larmer,   "  1   would  state 
that    or  several  years  we  have  been  in  the  habitof  rais- 
ing   Irom    one    to    three    acres   of  early    potatoes    for 
marke       Ue  have  usually  dug  them  early  in  August, 
and   belore  the  tops  were  dead.     The  tops  are  ttken 
directly  irom  the  lield,  and  spread  on  (he  mowing  lands 
to  very  great  advantage.     We  think  the  tops  from  an 
acre  of  potatoes  sufficient  to  top-dress  an  acre  of  mow- 
<ng  land,  and  the   effect  is  equal  to  three  or  four  cords 
of  good  niiinure." 

The  practice  alluded  to  in  this  extract  is  worthy  of  a 
careful  trial  by  those  who  are  so  situated  as  to  adopt  it 
It  IS  known  that  the  tops  of  potatoes   contain  a  lar-e 
percentage  of  the  organic  elements  of  plants. 

Fromberg  found  in  one  hundred  pounds  of  the  leaves 
in  a  natural  state,  from  .82  to  .92  per  cent,  of  nitrogen! 
and  that  one  hundred  pounds  of  leaves  dried  contain  from 
5.12  to  5.76  per  cent,  of  nitrogen,  if  bis  results  are 
correct,— and  there  is  no  reason  to  distrust  them,— we 
add  to  the  land  fifty  pounds  of  inorganic  salts,  besides 
nearly  twenty  pounds  of  nitrogen,  among  the  organic 
constituents  of  every  ton  of  potato-tops.  This  would 
make  a  ton  of  them  equal  in  value  more  than  two 
tons  of  the  b.^st  Tchaboe  gijano. 

In  a  case  which  T  have  ni  mind,  a  very  poor,  worn- 
out  grass  lot  was  top-dressed  with  fourteen  ordinary 
cart-loads  of  good  stable  manure  to  the  acre.  The 
quantity  of  grass  was  increased  four-fold.  Clover  and 
Jimothy  came  in  as  luxuriantly  as  on  any  new-laid 
r»iece.  If  the  top-dressing  wore  repeated  oiice  in  five 
or  six  years,  there  would  be  no  danger  of  exhaustion, 
though  there  would  be  an  advantage  in  loosening  the 
82* 


378 


PRACTICAL    OPINIONS. 


^•H.-tl.  With  the   plough.     But  the  use  oi'  stable  manure 
^:lKu.ld  bo  eoulincd  n.ostly  to  mowing-  land.    On  etselv 
fed  pastures  It  would   be  injudicious   fm,..  ,>    '  ^'°''6'>^ 
to  tbo  «7in      n..n  /"J""'^'""^ 'I <"ii  Its  exposure 

to  t  e  sun.     On  these,  ashes  or  plaster  would  be  better 
One  expeneneed  fUrn.er,  in  answer  to  the  eireula    o n' 
-  P'-eeed.ng  pag-e,  says  :  <-  Peruvian  guano,  mixed  wit 
loam    IS  unquestionably  the  best  mam.re  fbr  to^  I 
ng  that  can  be   fourul     Ashes  are  very  good  ZZl 
y  are  liable  to  be  wasl.e.l  by  the  fldhut H  r^^^^ 

r;o  l:^" r/'T'  ''"':'''  spring  would  beZS 
tune    o  spread  it;  but  on  la.ids  not  so  situated  the  Ml 

would  be  entirely  mixed   m  around  the  roots   of  thp 
"ua.mt,.      I  top-dress  moist  n,o,vi„g  I,„k1s  in  winter 

No  farm  should  be  managed  wi'  .  mmnn  f  i 

mud  sl)nnKi  1       1        t"^^^^^u)g.    A  quantity  ot  meadow 
nnul  should  be  dug  out  in  the  autumn  fbr  this  snecnl 
purpose,  where  it  is  practicable.     Two  cor  .nT 
"JU'l,  added  to   one   cord  of  on    i      '^,''''*^^'  °^  P^^^t 

-ke,hitheestiH:'o  iJ:;';!::^^^^^^ 

-".post  of  three  cords  of  val      i^  j^i^   "^^^  ' 
boon  tned  repeatedly,  and  is  constant  vdne  h  ^ 

ambitious  to  excel  in  fn-mn.o-      t    .i  •  ^  ® 

«^ooik.,.  ,,,gs,  the  regains  of  fish,  the  hlooj  'L'^L;!' 


« 


THE    COMPOST    HEAP. 


370 


Of  animals,  the  hair  of  animals,  all  the.o   make  an  ex- 
eee.hnglv  nchnmnure.     A  most   intelli..e,)t  g-entleman 
connected  w.th  a  wool  factory,  informs  n.e  tlmt  a  coni 
f  ."at.,   eolleeted  at   the  establishn.ent    is  worth  a 
east  hve   or  six  cords  of  the  best  stable  nmnure,  for  a 
^-^^^-^-     Tins  we  cannot  doubt;  for  h-re  ar'e   the 
blood,  the  wool,  pieces  of  the  skin  of  the  anin.al,  a  little 
l«me,  and  many  other  substances,  all  collected  too-ether 
A  fermentation  takes  place,  by  which  the  richest  a-ases 
H.0  formed.     Such  a  compost  heap,  with  an  addition  of 
loam  and  mnd,  would  be  invai-able  for  a  top-dressino-. 
R-'t,  though   m  most  cases  all  these  substances  cannot 
'•e  pr<.cure.l,  many  of  them  can,  and  should  be  saved  by 
overy  one  who  is  desirous  of  improving  his  land.  Those 
who  are  near  the  sea,  or  near  the  market,  can  procure 
:'"  al'-Klance  o    fish  to  add   to  the  cou.post.     Nothing 
.;s  better  ior  sods  than   this.     A  little  lin.e  added  to  tht 
heap    causes   its    rapid   and   thorough   decon.position. 
Ashes   should   also    be    added.      When    additions    of 
manure  are  made,  they  .hould  be  covered  with  mud  or 
loam,  to  prevent  waste. 

We  need  not  enter  mo.-e  minutely  into  the  details  of 
tonmng  the  con.post  heap.  It  is  sufficient  to  sav  in  v 
word  that  everything  capable  of  fermentation  ^:shoui; 

mud.     iSot  nng  ,s  more  common  among  farmers,  on  the 

death  of  a  hoivse  or  any  other  animal,  than  to  throw  tie 

body  away.     It  ,s  estimated  by  some  that  the  body  of 

a  single  horse,  when  divided  and  mixed  with  peat  mud 

and  loam  w.l  make  a  compost  worth  fifteen  or  twenty 

oads  of  the  best  and  richest  manure.     This  is,  perhap.; 

oo   iMgh  an   estimate;  but  animal  substances  ferment 

ap.db    or  rather  they  may  be  said  to  putrefy  without 

fermenting,  so  quick  is  their  decomposition     "if  le.ve 

grasses,   moss,   straw,   and   other    substances    of  like 


If 

m 

4  ^ 

'j ' 

f 

i 

i    . 


H.:ll^ 


I  •  ■■.• 


180 


USK    OP    LIQUID    MANURES. 


nature,  are  used,  lime  will   be  useful  in   «      •       x,    . 
rapid  decay.    Wl.en  these  a  e  ZtZutTZ     '" 
.iK.„ld  be  thrown  over,  and  if  .na  g ' iV';  „T 

thm'Tl  ™'"°  "''  "  '"'"'P''''.  PropeHy  ,„„de,  ia  greater 
Uan  tl,e  aggregate  v.dne  of  the  several  ingedie^rll 
P.ed  separately,  no  n.atter  what  or  how  rich    ley  n>ty 

animal  sub  tanc-es,  unless  peat  muck,  gyp.um   or  char 
coal,  were  largely  u.od  in  the  .au.e  mixture     ' 

Animals  fed  on  rich  food  make  far  the  most  valu^blp 
'nanure       This  will  serve,  in   part,  to  s"ow  Jb     tl  e 
n^anure  from  the  sty  is  so  fertilising.     Swine  arl  fed 
on  a  great  variety  of  neb  food.     TlL.ctual  p;^  fit     ' 
using  them   arises  mainly  from   the  amount  of  sul- 
stances   they  will   mix   together  and  make   into  gCo^i 
manure      If  the  sty  be  supplied,  at  intervals,  with  mud 
oam  and  other  vegetable  matter,  the  farn  er  will  n^' 
complain  of  the  cost  of  these  animals. 

I.iquid  manures  are  highly  useful  to  grasses      C-ue 
s  ould   be  taken   to  apply  them,  also,  t!  the  comp': 
heap.     Ihe  richness  of  manure  from  the  sty  is  due  to 
the  quantity  of  lic,uid  matter  it  contains.      Hence  tie 
importance  of  adding  a  great  variety  of  vegetable  sub- 
s  a  ices  loam,  and  mud.    In  a  word,  it  may  be  said  that 
all  liquid  manures  contain  a  large  amount  of  nitrogen 
which  ,s  one  principal  ingredient  of  ammonia,  to  which' 
we  have  alluded.     The  importance  of  savin.,    he  li^u  d 


'f  ^^i  I 


MOnES    OP    IMPROVING    PASTURES.  381 

Of  the  Stable   eitlier  with  the  compost  or  to  he  applied 

In  Itself,  may  be  seen,  also,  in  the  fact  that  the  exceed- 

ng  richness  of  guano,  and  the  manure  of  all  fowls  and 

bn-ds  IS  due  to  the  union  of  the  liquids  an.l  solids. 

After  fermentation  has  taken  place  in  a.n-mal  manures, 

out  HKl.  loss  by  evaporation;  and  hence  it  matters  not 
whether  the  top-dressing  is  applied  in  the  autumn  or  in 
the  spring.  Plaster  is  better  spread  in  the  spring,  when 
the  moisture  of  the  earth  makes  it  immedia'tely'lvaila- 
ble.  borne  prefer  the  autumn  for  spreading  compost 
rnanu..s  while  others  prefer  the  spring,  just'before'tlie 

and  wind.  The  soil,  in  autumn,  is  not  injured  bv  the 
loaded  cart  as  is  liable  to  be  the  case  in  spring.  Odier 
st.ll,  apply  them  after  the  first  mowing,  and  before  the 
summer  rams.  The  new  crop  preserves  the  manu  e 
from  drying  up  and  wasting.  This,  however,  is  ord' 
nanly  too  busy  a  season  to  attend  to  it  w  th  con- 
venience. 

We  have,  then,  these  several  methods  of  improving 
our  pasture  lands.  First,  To  allow  some  of  tiem  tf 
run  to  ,vood,  or,  which  is  far  better,  to  plant  them  with 

Z«  f         ,V''^yPP''«^  t°  poor,  thin   soils,  at  a  dis- 
tance  from   the   homestead,  and   chieffy  in   the  older 

Z2t  ''""  '"''"'''  ^'''''  '^^°"^^  exhauLd  or 

Second,  To  plough  and  cultivate,  where  this  can  be 

and"rockv"'°Tr  ^"^  f^''  "''"^^  ""^  "^^^°«  «^"^bom 
and  rocky.      This  applies  to  many  lands  which  have 

been  used  as  pastures  time  out  of  mind,  the  soils  of 

which  are  natundly  good,  but  have  run  out  from  neg. 

Jeot.     Put  soil  into  a  good  state  of  culture,  and  rich 

and    nutritive    grasses   will    flourish    as    naturally  as 


382 


SOWIXG     GRAS8-SKED. 


„  oil  MIS  d8  tie  lattur  „rc  on   poor  ojiea,     Tlie  sue 
...  .,,,  .,epe,K,  Ciefl,  on  «„„U  .u,.„,.,  if  „„r,„:,l 

gras„-see.l»  .pake,,  of  above,  a„d  the,,  l,arrow,„d  bru    , 
over  aga,,,,  ,l,e  work  to  be  done  in  ^^eptembj    t  vo  y 

TvT.  ■      „?""'^'; ''  ""•'  ■'""■'''='=  ■'  l""d  '"""gl- '"  KO  over 
v,th  cattle  „„l,o„t  too  n.ud.  ,,oacl,i„g.     TI,i,^a„Z» 

<oold  pasture.  c.ove,.ed  witi,  ,„oss,  ,W,ere  .  e     wee 
glasses  are  ran  out,  but  wbich,  from  their  partioahr 
location,  „,ay  not  be  desirable  L  woo  K    ,1   no     pav 
""„"  nioio  ^".plele  and  ca,.eful  in,p,.ovea,ent.  ^'^ 

i^ouilh,  1„  ,n,x  the  grasa-seeds  as  evenly  as  nossibl„ 
ith  a  flneiy.d,vided  eompost,  and  use  it  as^,   o^    »: 
•ng,  first  ha,row,ng  the  surface  to  loosen  it  and   ater 
«pread,„g  the  compost,  brushing  it  over  v  th  a  br  sh 
harrow- to  b,eak  up  the  lumps.    This  wi  I  co't  a  1  tl 
more   than   the   p.-ecediug  method,  but     ,e  ^a  s'  ed 
w      start  sooner  make  a  larger  and  finer  gfowtl,   he 
fi.  St  season,  and  g,ve  greater  satisfaction.     This  Inl lie 
o  very  much  the  same  class  of  lands  as  the  p  ecedtt: 
tn  both  cases,  if  the  pasture  or  any  narrtf  it  ^-^      ^ 

water^lh'e  si,':,,'  Tf  :Z:  ^^^J'^  '•"«™"' 
least  to  leave  a  d,y  and  lie:!  I  y  ^rf  c'"  Itt  ,1"  " 
'a,y  to  say  that  the  top.d,ess  ug  sCid  1' 'f  r  ' 
weed.seed,„nd  be  in  a  flnelyd  v  fed   to  f    T,,;    "  {?"l 

un'pTomaht  ^rthro':,rer^ "°"'  '"""'^'^'^^  -" 

J,      stocKing,  m  other  words,  pretty 


itaneons  on 
•  The  sue- 
i  this  mode 

h\y   with   a 
mixture  of 
■V  and  brush 
ber  or  very 
to  go  over 
'his  applies 
the  sweet 
particular 
(1,  nor  pay 
t. 

as  possible 
t  top-dress- 

and,  after 
th  a  brush 
St  a  little 
grass-seed 
rowth  the 
lis  apph'es 
)receding. 
it  is  GOV- 
'6  cut  or 

stagnant 
I  so  as  at 

nnneces- 
Vee  from 
s  method 
isands  of 
able  and 

7  as  the 
8,  pretty 


rs 


IRRIGATINO    GRASS    LANDS.  38^ 

Closely,  for  a  few  years.     The  first  objection  that  manv 
armers  nuse  to  this  method  is,  that  tile  cost  oM^^ 

-^.•oat,andthatitisabranchofhusband,vwithw^h 
^ZZl^    "TT'    ''^'■'--y^'esoj.utthet^: 

mprove„K.„.,  while  the  raising  „f  ,,„.„,,  „„,,     „r,°'^ 
foltt  ,.  destined  to   be  a  p™h',able  bid.  rf 

Another  practicable  means  of  improving  our  jrrass 
ands  ,s  by  „-..,gation.      Every  casual  observer,    ven 
fam.har  w,th  the  fact  that  lands  are  fertilieed  bv  ir   '  1 
t  on,  and  especially  that  the  grass  by  running  stre  ms 
shoots  earlier  in  spring,  and  makes  ■.  fin   mc>re     X 
grow    ,  ^an    mds  on  the  s.me  Kind  of  soil  wh^h  h^ 
no    the  advantage  of  runn.ng  water.     The  introduction 
o   the  hydrauhc  ram  among  the  implements  of  the  farm 
offers  facht.es  for  irrigating  grass  'ands  not  hitheTo 
known;  and  ,t  w.ll  unquestionably  b.-o-me,  hereaf^r  an 
ToCts    ™T"7^^-'-^.-^  «^--tour  severe  succ- 
our lands  "  '"^'-^^^'"^^  vastly  the  production  of 

rt  would  be  impossible  to  state  with  anv  detail  the 
different  methods  adopted  to  effect  the  oljects  of  irri- 
gation  smce  ,t  would  require  a  distinct  treatise  upon 
the  subject ;  and  it  is  sufficient  to  allude  to  the  simplest 

offered '""^^^''"^    '"'^^    '"'"""'''   """^    ^^'^    advantages 

Superficial  irrigation,  which  is,  perhaps,  the  oldest 

and  the  most  common  form  in  which  water  is  artifi- 

ciaily  applied  for  the  purpose  of  increasing  the  growth 


[I ,  , 


,     I 


II  i 


nm 


EFFECT    OF    IIIRIGATION. 


of  g?-a.ss,  was  nndonhtedlv  siifrc-estPf?  hv  «i 

Ktnuikul.le  examples  of  this  ,ire  fumiliir  tn  , 

he  Hn..ual  or  periodical  ove^flo^vi„    "     '  L  VII     "T  '' 

tlie  water,  without  beinn-  l^it  i  ""'  ''"''^^''^ 

Uce,  is  .novin..  gently  ofet  ,"       '""'''  "'^""  ^''^^  ^'^"'- 

viHl  rnatfer  hnrThLriT  ^^' ^'^^f'*!^'^"'«-  ^vhutever  ullu- 

ll«-.V  ncl,„Ma  of  tlie  vallev  of  fij  \       ■  '.'"-. "•^'"""■''l- 
»m„ller8ca]e  oCtlie  v„l  e,„^  ,1     P      "'"■'.''''"■  ""''  °"  » 

Km"  l«.„l  by  a    ml  'f    I    1,      """'""^  "■"""'  °^'^'- 
lake  ti,„  ,v„(e,- from  r„  !7'  "P""  '''"'"■''  '"'"•''I' 

;''T  and  g„lellv  n^aC  L  I,  C  "''  "■'■' '"  "^  " 
by  irrigation,  i,,  p„t  into  a  stlto  ,  f  ""^  ""Pmved 
-■thout,.„,ocoa!i„,  fori  :   S^^    "^'^y' 

01- «ny  other  material  .  ^pense     it  I  '''^'"'"'«' 

«ive  a,  to  yield  tl,e  largest  b'ik    fT'T  ™  P"'"""" 
dance  of  the  very  best  Znltf  "■'■  '"""'''=''  "»•""■ 

spring,  and  for  co.^Vj^      ,f";;--,"";'  '-'-n  .^e 

every  year.  I„  favorable  sit  rwi  ',  T'™"  "^ 
earlv  grass  i„  the  spring  wb  n  Tt"-'  ,  '"n""'^'"  "'"■^' 
and  not  only  is  the  land  Z'  ^  '*  ''""'''>'  ^'-able  : 
occasion  for  ma  „  "  b.  tTf  "■'  r""'""'-  "'""""'any 
'vhich  is  converterinto  1  '""'^""'■' /""'^  ^r  animals 
lands,  thns  angmentinTthaT"'!  '"  '"'  "'"=<'  ™  ""'er 

The   effect^„"d  vab,e  of^'''      "'"■™  "^  ^''^^'^'^y-" 
valne  of  ,rr,gat,„n  do  not  depend 


observing  the 
low  of  rivers. 
J"  to  many,  aa 
le  Xile,  where 
npoii  the  sur- 
vhiitever  allu- 
he  extraordi- 
ppi,  and  on  a 
'ut  ajid  other 
I'lfffition ;  and 
t  Water  over 
haim,  which 
eping  a  con- 
'  in  any  part, 
so  Himple  as 
lile  skill  and 
sxperiments 
^ntion.     Sir 
'  operation, 
lost  certain 
if  it  is  of  a 
}  improved 
'il  fertility, 
)f  weeding, 
so  produc- 
ides  abnn- 
mhs  in  the 
lutumn  of 
uces  very 

valuable  ; 
ithout  any 
'1"  animals 

on  other 
rtility." 
t  depend 


^^    OF    DliAI.VAGE. 


[^'together  npon  the  nrtifi  ■  , 

t  H3  irngatory  current  of  water  in     '•'""''  ^^''^'"'^  of 

r^^^  .^•■•ouns  clear  of  t^^^:  ^''^''''^  ^''^^''-  ^t.L  and 
•     b'«  e.rculation  of  wate     .  ''  ^''"'^^""^'"^^  ^''^^  -'1'. 

f  ^-^-.iertili.ition.     Tl^  ^^^""^"'--'''^  I-rt  in  i  J 
»««'•«  en-cun.stance  of /luwif'^'r'  '^  ""^'''>  ^'^'om  the 
^J-  prodigious  ,.  for,  u  ,r /L;  ''''^"'^^^'^'"  -^'  ^''0  water 
fjnest  indigenous  g  a.se    i     ?'^^^  7''''  '-'-^^-^  up   he 
^''^"^  -v-'t,  and  wl  :,    :;      '^«,  ^'"-vte,  and   ,,,^,  '  , 

™^  ^^j'Mnant  water  tCSl'""^'-'^'-''^' -''  '"-' 
t'^^good  giasses."  ^''  deteriorates,  or  ki||«,  ^j, 

Ihe  effect  which  snrf.^o  •    • 
--^ritive   .uulities   of    t"  T^'^'^"  P^°^"^^«  on  the 
^^f-.'-ence   to    the  tab  Is   of  ^  "'?''    "^^^^^   ^«   «een   bv 
«e,d'ng  chapter.  ''   °^  ^"^'^^^^^s  found   in  l\,Z 

i-^nd.,ov  lands  under  .  nf         I  '"^P^ovement  of  ,.ras. 
«3-ten.  of  drainage    C  f'^''''''''  '^  ''^  ''^  P'opo 
^-^  -et  land..  .^.^  itt?::;;^;'^  ^'t  -.port^it  t 
fluous  water,  tl.us  mak,n  *  fl^     '"'  *'^^'»  ^'-""^  ««per- 
^''%e  in  early  sprinTbuf «  f'"!,  ""'''  ''^"^^•epti'>le  of 
Perature  sevend  'd  "4  s  L  •  "'"^^'  '"^^^'^-^  ^'-^  em 
^7  e.ght  to  ten,  and  r    ;w  e^ftr  ?"^  ^"^  "^-^'  - 
-'-^nd  admits  the  air  to  ci,  cnl  f         '"  ^''""^  *"'"  *«  four 
'•"^^^  of  the  plants.     Thrao  1  r  """''  ^''^^'3' around  the 

S3  u' dined,  chere  are  few 


Iff 


886 


urrcniN(;   halt  mai{sf?rs. 


iS; 


I   I 


which  cannot,  be  ditchod,  un.l  gvontly  hnproved,  hv  the 
•ntro.  uct.on  of  a  hotter  .,„ality  of  gruHHos  than  ihose 
usually  foun.i  tl.no.     Tlu,  (ollowi,.,,^  statcn.ont  of  one 
ot    ho  most  M.telh.ent  practical  larn.ers  of  the  conntry 
uill  show  what  may  ho  done  in  this  direction  • 
The  nmr.sh  was  one  which  never  had  been  ditched. 
I  purchased  ,t/'  says  he,  "in  1840,  which  year  it  pro, 
duced   rather  less  than   half  a  t.>n  per  acre   of  pior, 
«hort,  w.ry  hay,  worth  but  little  more  than  the  cost  of 
cutting  and  curing.    In  the  autumn  of  that  year,  1  hired 
faithful  laborers,  well   skilled   in  the   business,  to  cut 
<htches  over  the  whole  lot,  two  rods  apart,  eight  inches 
w.de  and  three  feet  deep;   the  sods  taken  out  were  laid 
in  piles,  to  prevent  the  ti.le  from  washing  them  away. 
The  two  following  winte  .,  they  were  taken  upon  a 
sled  to  the  cattle-yard,  where  they  remained  until  the 
roots  of  grass  contained  in  them  were  decayed,  so  as 
to  break  in   pieces  readily.      For  manure,  and  as  an 
absorbent,  they  are  as  valuable  as  the  best  of  meadow 
muck  or  peat.     I  paid  for  ditching  the  entire  lot  ninety 
dollars  ;  more  than  one  hundred  cords  of  sods  were 
dug  out  and  carted  away,  which  I  consider  worth  as 
much  to  me  as  the  sum  paid  for  ditching.     They  were 
placed  in  the  barn-yard,  in  a  compact  form,  to  insure 
a   proper   degree   of    moisture    and    cause   a   speedy 
decomposition,    and    afterwards    mixed    with    animal 
manures. 

"  Three  years  after  ditching,  the  produce  was  double, 
—  full  one  ton  per  acre  was  cut,  of  an  improved  quab 
ity,— since  whicn  it  has  annually  increared.  This  year 
the  produce,  as  estimated  by  good  judges,  was  two  tons 
per  acre,  including  about  five  tons  of  second  crop,  cut 
from  the  best  part  of  the  marsh.  As  an  evidence  of 
the  quantity  cut  this  year,  I  would  state  that  the  prod- 
uce has  been  sold  for  three  hundred  dollars  in  cash 


<l 


roved,  by  tlie 
L's  than  tliosi' 
'iiiont  of  oiiu 

tlio  country 
ion  : 
»et'n  ditcliod. 

yoiir  it  pro. 
ere  of  poor, 
ti  tlio  cost  of 
year,  I  liircd 
nesH,  to  cut 
eight  inches 
•lit  were  laid 
thorn  siway. 
ken  upon  a 
ed  until  the 
cayod,  so  as 
!,  and  as  an 

of  meadow 
'e  lot  ninety 

sods  were 
jv  worth  as 

They  were 
II,  to  insure 
!  a  speedy 
'ith    animal 

ivas  double, 
roved  qual- 
This  year 
IS  two  tons 
J  crop,  cut 
v^idence  of 
t  the  prod- 
rs  in  cash. 


WELL  HKOUN,  HAL.  WELL  DONE. 


387 


nftor  the  owner  had  used  nearly  one  ton  for  feed  for 
bis  cows,  the  puirhusu'r  agreeing  to  take  it  at  tlio  barn 
where  it  is  now  stored. 

"I  consider  salt  hay,  when  cut   from   marshes  that 
mve  been  ditched,  where  the  ijra^s  is  Uddc  an,l  the  „UUl 
lar.je,  to  be  worth  as  much  as  thn  average  „t   .ulland 
liay  ;  that  cows  thrive  as  well,  and  give  as  much  milk 
!is  when  fed  with  TiiMotiiy  gra.s  and  clover  hav      it  U 
n.y  hehef  tbit  all  marshes  can  be  made  more^pn^luc- 
tive  by  thorough  draining,  at  a  very  small  expense      I 
Uit.Mid.    next   autnmn,   to    cut   ditches    upon    n-.y    own 
marsh  between   those   heretofore  made.      My  (,„!,„•„„ 
is  unchanged,  that  the  sods  are  worth  us  m.ieh  as  the 
expense  of  ditching,  when  within  one  mile  of  the  iarm 
wliere  they  are  to  be  used." 

This  subject  ought  to  receive  the  careful  attention 
of  the   enterpns-ng  farmer.      Even  a   fivrmer   of   verv 
b.n.ted  means  may  do  something  each   vear  toward; 
.mproving  h.s  pasture  lands.     He  may  lessen  the  area 
of    he  bushes;  he  may  plough  up  a  small  piece, at  least, 
and  seed  down  at  once  with  grass-seed  and  winter  rve 
e.ther  in    he  spring  or  in  the  fall,  and  in  either  case  l.is 
stock  will    are  enough  better  to  pay  for  it;  and  the 
next  yea    he  may   ake  another  piece  in  the  same  pas- 
tuie  till  the  whole  ,s  finished,  when  it  will  carry  more 
stock,  and  more  stock  will  give  him  more  manure,  and 
more  manure  wnl  increase  the  fertility  of  other  lands 
and  increased  fertility  will  add  to  his  means  of  furthe 
•mprovement.     The  difficulty  with  most  small  farmers 
18  to  beg.n.     Well  begun  is  half  well  done ;  for,  the 
nrioment  any  real   improvement   is  begun   in  earnest, 
the    mterest    is    excited,   the    mental    aetivitv    is    in. 
creasccl    the    desire    for    improvement    partakes    the 
nature  of  a  passion  ;    and  hence,  though  the  begin- 


388 


THE    CONCLUSION. 


"■r:;;:r:^,itrir^''-^^--'™ 


CONCLUSION. 

In  conclusion,  I  have  another  sufftrestion  fn  rr,ni 

our  agncultum    societies      It  ,v„„i^  i  '(-^tnals  of 

I   tlilnl-    f  -^L'Lucs.     It  would  be  an  easy  thina- 

1  thn.k.  to  engage  many  in  this  faseinatino-  ,,„w' 
7'""^'  u'Hlou btediy,  would  be  interested  b>  ^he  n  Je 
^^ugg•e.stlon,   but  the   offer  of  «nv,)i  •     "'^,^""P'<^ 

liH-pest    in  1     I.,  f  ,  '^'   Pi-ennums   for  the 

i<  g(,st  and  best-arranged  collection  would  induce 
others  to  attenjpt  it  who  now  want  something  t     s t  m 

might  mi:  ^h^  ^"'^'-   ^''^  ^^---'  '----•  -^, 

m.giit  aifoHl  the  necessary  stimulus ;  and,  if  an  interest 
were  once  excited,  the  subject  would  be  stil        't t 
pursued,  till  many  others  were  interested,  while 
collections,  if  properly  named,  would  do  much  to  d is 

"  The  royal  rose,  the  tulip's  glow, 

The  jiismine's  gold,  are  fair  to  see  ; 
Cut  while  the  graceful  grasses  grow, 
O,  gather  them  for  me  ! 

"  The  pansy's  gold  and  purple  wing, 

The  snow-drop's  smile,  may  light  the  lea , 
iJut  while  the  fragrant  grasses  spring, 
My  wreath  of  them  shall  be  !  " 


f 


il^M 


3  renovation 


on  to  make, 
ollection  of 
festivals   of 

easy  tiling. 
"g  pnrsuit. 
'  tlie  simple 
ms  for  tlie 
lid  induce 
"g  to  stini- 
ever  small, 
an  interest 
till  further 

while  the 
leli  to  dis- 
less  riches 


INDEX  OF  SySTiiJiAIIC  NAMES. 


(i 


AoROSTis  stoliHiifera, 
"        pi'iviMiaiis,  .    ' 
vulniiris   .    .   . 

""''i,  •  .   .   .   , 
"        Ciiriiiiii,     .    .' 
"        sciilini, .   .    .   '. 
"        <lw|iar,  .    .    .    ." 
"        elatii,     . 
AntlMXiiiitlminodo 

Ami  Mi'xiiDSii, '' 

ca'pitixa,  .    .    ,   I   ' 
lltHi;itio;i,   .    .    .'    [    I 
'■    atniiHiriJiiiva,  .    '   ' 
Alopecuius  piMtfiisis, . 

ilfTR'Stis,      .     .     , 

■'         t-'i'iiiiMilatus,  .   . 
'  "I'istiihituH,   . 

Aiiimopliila,.nii„ii|,,,u_ 
Aii(lr<j|,o„'(),i  fui-uatHs,  . 

]'  stMiiarius,    .    .' 

^^  aWMtcus,  .    . 

.„  Vii-ffiiiieus,  .    . 

Aveiiii  prateiisis,  .... 
"  fiavesceus,  .  '  "  * 
"  striata,  ...."' 
"  lii'iBodx,  .  "  ■  ■ 
"  aativa,  ..."'*' 
Aristida  ilicliDtoina,  .'  .'  ' 
"  ni'acilH,  .  .  ,'  ' 
''         raMi.Mis^iiiia,    ."  .' 

tiil>eivulusa,  .   . 
"         strifta,  .....' 
''         piiriMirascens,  ' 
■'  "lii,'aritlia,  .  . 

Arrhenatlnrun.  avenaceum  " 
Aruiiiliiiaria  maei-ospcrini 
Unituloua  uli^'ustaehya,  .  '    ' 
"         liirsiita,  .    .' ."    "    ■ 
"         nirtipoii.liila,'   ." 

nirli.vc'lytnirnaristatum, 
Uriza  iiK'li  1, .... 

"      maxima,  ....''' 
[JnzMpyruni  spicatum,'   !   "   * 
UnjiiiiH  swaliims,    .    .    .    '    ' 
"      rai.'1'iiiosus,      .    !   .'    ' 
"       mullis,     ... 
'■       kalmii,     .    .    '   '    '    ' 
"      sterilis,    ..,'■■ 
"      ciliatiH,  ...."'■ 
'■      pratfiisis,  ,   .'   "   '   * 
Calaijiagrosti;,  Caim.lensis,'   .' 
"  eoarctata,    .    ." 

iiit'xpaiisa,  .   . 


vi|iilis, 
longilblia, 


•    •  17, «     CalumiVKrustis  Wokeringii, 

12,35,4u'  •■  '"•«^"   '■■ 

.    .    .    42 

' .  u     }^!^^'"-'>'i-"«  trilml„i,ie:i,  . 
Lirina  anihdiiiacfa,  .  . 

'■      peiKlula,  .  .    . 
(  teniiiui  Amcricanum, 
•-yiKwunisiTiatatus, 


.  I:JJ 


102, 
102, 


by 

44 

-.M 

22J 

•  .  .  120 
.  .  l-'l,20ii 
■  .  .  .  Hi 
.    .    .    .  12.J 

•  .  30,  222 
.    .    .    .    bl 

•  .  3a,  207 
.   .   .   .    :i:; 

■  ■   49,207 

■  .    .    .  14S 

•  .  .  .  140 
...  140 
.    .    .  14 ) 

125,  200 
120,  222 
...  120 
.  .  .  127 
.  127,  171 
...  59 
...  50 
.  .  .  59 
.  .  .  «0 
.    .    .    59 

•  .  .  59 
.    .    .    00 

•  127, 222 
.    .    .  110 

249,  25S 
.  .  .  02 
.  .  .  02 
.  .  .  48 
.  96,222 

.  .  90 

.  .  SO 
,10;i,  105 
102,  100 
197,  222 

.  .  107 


Poge 
...  49 
...  49 
...  49 

.  .  49 
.  .  147 
•  .  45 
.  .  40 

.  .  01 

lb",  222 

Ob,  254 

•  .  21)0 

^.-'3,60,  111,  2o'o 
12  i 


•'.vriixliiM  ilactyloii,  '. 
Lyin-iacuit,    . 

i'aLtih.sg|oi„erata,  .   .      i-j' 
IJiiritli.Miia  spicata,  . 
piMiua  muscijmla, 

IJiaiYliena  Amurioaua, -^ 

lJii|)'iiitia  coiileyi  •"' 

Katm.ia  I'en.isylvlanica,  .'   .' »» 

Weusiiiu  Iiiilioa,  7o 

tlyiims,  Hrenanu.s,  .' ^4 

jj  Virgiiiieus, 
Caiiadfiisis, 
sti'iatua,  .  . 


107 

108  : 

48 
48 
49  I 


mollis. 

^,  "    nystrix,. ; : 

iii'aKrostis  rrjitans,  . 

1^"  pniL'oiiles,    ', 

nH^'a.stacl,ya, 
pilcisa,  . 

"  capillaris,    . 

PL'ctinacea, .  , 

Fraakii,  .    .    . 

"■iiuis,  .   . 

l'.nan(hiia  aliipuciiroides" 

I'l'i'viOarljis,    .' 

iestiica  tcni'lla,  .... 

"        "Vina,     .   .    "   ' 

11        pratiMisiii,  .    .'    ■ 

t'lati(»r,    .    , 
"        (luriusciila,    .'   ! 
"        riihra,     . 
"        loliaCKi,  .    ,    ■   ■ 
"    .    nutans,  .   .   .   ." 
(jlyoeria  Caiiailciisis,  . 

"Otnsa,  .   .   .   ." :} 

"        ilistans,  .   .       y 

"    (-'loMgata,  .  .  ;  ; /'• 

niTvata J;? 

"        pallida ■ !f 

"        aciuiiiiira,  . i^ 


.  (19 

.  118 
119 
.  119 
.  119 
.  120 
.  92 
.  93 
.  9;i 
.  9b 
94 
94 
94 
94 
14S 
14S 
90 
290 

•  ■    .  99 

•  ■  100,  200 
97,  200,  222 

•  •  .  .  97 


97, 


101 
101 


297 


a(|ua(ifa,  .... 

fluitans, ...   •  •  •  .   _ 

""-"•'"ma. . . ; : ;  :7v,-in'iuJ 

(389) 


390 


INDEX    OF    SYSTEMATIC    NAMES. 


Oymiiopogon  lirevif.iMus, 
"  rac.-iijnsiis, 

Ik'ilysai'um  (iiiuuiycliis,  . 
Iliurocliloii  hiirealis, .   . 

"  iilpiiia,    .    .    . 

IIolcus  lanatiis,     .... 

"     mollis, 

IIorileuiiLJiiliatuin,  .    .    . 

"         ilistidmiii,    .    . 

"  viilpire,   ... 

"  imsiUuin,  .  .  . 
.'uncacem, 

.UlllC'llS  lllllllllSUH,  .     .     .     ." 

Kiului-ia  cri.slata, 

"        tniiii'ata,    .   .   .   . 

Lwrsia  in'.v/.niiles,    .    .    .    . 

"       \ii'.:.'iiii(;a,    .    .    .   . 

"       It.'nticiilarrs,     ,    ,   . 

Ix'ptoclil.Bi  mucniiiata,   .   , 

"  lasoiciilarit!,  .    . 

ii''|itni-iis  iianiciiiatus, .   .   . 

Loliiiiii  |i  ■i-ciiiio, 

"      Italifum, 

"     tuinulc'iitmii,     .    .    . 
"     multilliHiiiii, .... 

Mi'dioa;.'!)  nali\'i, 

Mclii-aiiiiiticra,  ....,'.' 

-Miliiun  I'll'usiiiii,   ..'.'*' 

Mulilfiil)urf,'ia  diirusa,     '.   '. 

Kl'iincrato,    . 

.'li'xicMiia,    . 

"  s.vlvatica,     . 

"  s.il)o|if,.ra,    . 

"  M'ilMciiovii, 

"  Ciiiiillaris,     . 

Oryzipsis  nii'la -ai-pa,  .    . 

"        as|)oi-if„li; 

"        Caiiaduiisis,     . 

On'zasativa, 

I'aiiicuiii  lilifiiniii',  '  .'  "  .'  [ 
"  t-'labniin,  .  .  .  ,  , 
"  saii.i;iiinalL',  .  ,  .  . 
"  aKiMstoiiles,  .  .  .  ' 
"       prolifLTimi,   .    .    .   .' 

"       capillaiv 

"       ant'PiM, 

"       ainariiin 

"       autunuialf,   .    .    .    ." 
"       l)aiicirl'inin),     .    .    '. 

"       ilichdt nil),     .    .    . 

"  <lei)aiiperatiini,  .  . 
"       vorniciisuiii,  .... 

"      virjiatiim, 

"      latifiiliiiin, 

"  clanik'stiiMim,  .  .  ', 
"       xaiitliciplijsuiii,    .    . 

"       crus-ftalli 

"      germaiilcum,    .    .   ' 

"       visciilmn, 

"       iniliaci'Hiii,    .    .    .    ' 

P.ispalum  liiiitans 

"         (litritarla,     .    .    . 

la'vr, 

"         disticlmm,  .    .    .    . 
"         setaoiMini,    .    .    . 
I'lialaris  arundinacoii,     .    .   .' 

'■      f'anariensis,  .    .    . 
I'lileuin  prateii30.     .   . 


Pupo 

03 

t)2 

VJi 

i:il 

];j:i 

•    •    .  Vi9,  222 

Wl  i 

117; 

■    •       118,104 
118,163,  l(j4l 

"s; 

lOS  I 

-  77,  198,  •JO-  i 
•   .   .   .    To' 


I'lili'um  alplimin,  .    .   .    . 
I'lira.irniitua  ouimiiuiiis,    . 

1  i>a  siTotina 

"    praU'iisis,    ...    07' 
"    C(]in|iiV3aa,     .    .    .    '. 

"    annua,     \ 

"    trivjalis,  ...'..[ 

"    nuiiKiralis,  .   .    .    '   ' 

"    li'Mi,    .... 

"    liri'viftilia,   ....'." 

"    flf.\u(jsa, 

"    "Isndus,  .  '    ■    ■ 

"  'i^'i'iii",  ...'.';■ 

"    sj-|vi>ti-is,    ...'"' 

-ib,  JO,  f-aiThai-nin   .^llicinaruiu,  . 

.    .    2()  i»  calc  Lvrcalo,  .... 

.    .    27  i  fci-tai'ia  \micillata,  .    .' 

•  •    64 1  "      MliiiU'a,  .    .    .    .    ' 

•  •    fl-*'  "      \iridis,  .    . 
,••110:  "      Jtalica,  .    .    .    ;    ■ 
110, -222;  goi-Khmn  t^aciliaratum,    . 

"         intiriiiii,.    .    .    . 
"  nutans,  .    .    . 

„     ".        vul^'ari.,     .    .    . 
Ppartimi  cj-ncisuniidi's,   , 
•'        I'iil.\staeloa,     .   , 
t-'lahra,   .    .    .    .    , 
"        uttrnitlora,    .   .   ', 
"        juncta,   .... 
"        sti'icta,   ....'. 
Sporobolu3   sorotinus,  .   . 
"  juneeun,     .    .    ' 

III  tcrnlfpls,  ,  . 
cryptandrus, .  . 
couipressus,  .    , 

Btipa   avonacca, 

Stipii  pciinata,  .....'." 
"  lUclianLsonii,  .... 
"       parti 


112 
•112,115 
■  •  .  115 

.  189, 22:1 
...  71 
.  .  .  137 
...  47 
...  40 
.  .  .  40 
.  .  .  47 

•  .  .  46! 

•  .  .  47i 

•  .  .  47 

•  .  .  6,5 
.  .  .  56 
.  .  .  56 
.  27,  156 

.  .140 


140  Tricu.^pis  purpurea, 


.  140 
.  141 
.  141 
.  14T 
.  140 
.  142 
.  141 
.  143 
.  144 
.  144 
.  144 
.  141 
,142 
142 
142 
144  j 


105,  134 
12,' 17,  34; 


(•i'sliT(jides,  . 
I  ■•        ciirnuta,    .   . 

Trifiiliuin  iiratcnse,  .  . 
"  ripens,  .  .  . 
"  liudiuiu,  .  . 
"  hyliriduni,  . 
Triglochin  pallustre,  . 
"  inaritiinuin, 

"  elatuni,    .    . 

Trisetum  in,  .lie,     .    .    . 
l)allustre,  .   . 
lailiescens,     . 
Iriticum  rejieas,  .   . 
"        canlnum, .   . 
"         vulp\re,    .    . 
,,.;„.   "         coinpnsiiuni, 
•  Jt^  [  Tnpaacum  dact.vloi.les, 
142    I  niola  i>aniculata,   . 
14-2       "        latif„lia,     .    ,    .    . 
l-!0       "       Kracili.s,     .    .    .    . 

140   \ilfa  aspera, 

1.3!)       "    vanina'florn,     '.    '.    '. 

VM    .\yris  liullmsa, 

1-30       "     caroliniana,    .    !    ' 
206   Z,.a  mays,  ....... 

.'i'.",   ^'''■""'"  "Oimtica,  .    .   !   .' 
'■'"       "        uiiliacoa,  .... 


Pope 
BB 

•  •     100,  207.  258 

SO,  86,  88,' 222*258 

Ul 

.    .  13,  14,  H).  222 

85,  222 

84 

80 

81 

81 

81 

81 

81 

45 

152 

118.168 

146 

140 

146 

146 

150 

150 

' 149 

•  •    .    .  150,254 
60 

•  .    .    .    60,207 

61 

61 

....    01,  -.07 

•  •    .    .    6],  207 

08 

37 

37 

oS 

38 

68 

67 

67 

68 

65 

66 

65 

•  •    .    .  185. 223 

•  .    .    .  188, 223 

•  .    .    .  189, 223 

189 

l!'7 

197 

197 

124 

125 

•  .    .125, 222 

•  ■    .  115,116 

•  •    .  117 

•  .    .  117,168 
117 


...  147 

•  .  .  108 
.    .    .  109 

•  .  .  109 
.  .  .  37 
.  .  .  37 
.  .  .  199 
.    .    .  199 

164,  174 
.  28,  20? 
.    .    .     29 


IS. 


;i(> 

•  •  •  100, 'JOT.  2i)S 

, TJi,  M 

",  SO,  8S,  88,  'J^-^.  L'oH 

Ul 

•  ■  •  13,  14,  K),  L>L'2 

85,  :i2:i 

84 

80 

81 

81 

81 

81 

81 

' 45 

152 

US.  ]H8 

146 

140 

146 

146 

150 

150 

149 

150,l.'54 

60 

60,207 

61 

61 

61,  LOT 

61,  207 

ti8 

a7 

o~ 

o8 

:is 

68 

57 

57 

58 

05 

66 

65 

185.  22^ 

1^8,  223 

180,  223 

ISO 

107 

107 

107 

124 

125 

•  •  •  .  126, 222 

•  •  ■  .  116,118 
117 

•  •  ■  .  117,168 

117 

147 

108 

100 

100 

37 

37 

109 

190 

•  .  .  154,  174 
■  •  ■  .  28,  207 
29 


I 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


Aftormath,  growth  anJ  use  of  the, 31    ^r,   87   01    q^l    q-i  q., 

Agricultural  Museum,  follectiu,,.  tor  the  ■51>  ^6,  87,  91,  3ol,  3o3,  354 

A|,y-ieulturalSodetk..s  .should  offer  prizes 'ibrcolle'ctions d'i 

Albuuiiiiou.s  I'r  noiDl.w  »"•  i-uiiLunons, 3yg 

Alfalfa,  culture  of'      '      222,  224,  22G,  228,  2:14 

Allen's  Mower,  illu.-^tnition  of ^'^'■^'  l'^"^'  ^'>'^ 

Alpine  IJrown  iJent,  natural  history  of, '''■* 

A  pine  ileed  lieiit,  ile.soription,    .    .  ^" 

Alsjko  (,'luver,  oliaiacteristics  of, '^^ 

AoinKuiia,  iniportanoe  of,  .  ■'''*'■' 

Analysis  of  the  (J ras.ses,    .    .'   .' .,:,  \n'o  '.,.;,    '*"'' •*"2.  ^'1 

"    Weeds, '■*'  ^'*^'  ^^^'  220,  22S,  231 

Annual  Spear  (iiass, 234 

Annual  IJeard  (ini.ss,  de'scripUiui 13,14,80 

Arrow  (ira.-i.-ies,  list  of  the,     .  •*'> 

Ash  of  the  (irasses,  analysis  of!    ! ^■*" 

Ashes,  use  of  as  niaimre,    ...,.' 231,233 

Atmosphere,  elements  of  the" 3(i7,3(i'J 

A  wiie.l  Ijrachyelytrum,  description  "of 20,^,210 

AwnlessMuhlenbergia,  natural  historV  of,"    '.'.'.'.'.'.'.'. 1^ 

Barley,  eomposition  of,  .    .  '' 

;;       description  and  culture'of,  ."   ." I,",','' ,^""' ]^^ 

"      climatic  range  of  ll'3,  Id.),  I(i7 

Barley  (ira,ss,  description  of," 2(11,2(13 

Barn  Gia.-s,  description  of,    .    '.    '. 11« 

Beach  Grass,  natural  history* of,  .*.'.' ^^'^ 

"  "       culture  of,     .    .     ' ■i'> 

Beard  (irasses,  natural  hi..tirv"of"  the 50,  52,  5j,  21)0 

Bearded  Darnel,  seeds  uf  in.isonous,  '.    '. ]f'> 

carded  U  heat  (iia.s.s,  description,  .    .  L' 

Benefit  of  .Mr.  JJ„bbs, H" 

Bengal  (Jrass,  description  of,"    i '^23 

Bermuda  (Jriuss,  natural  history  of ^^'' 

Black  (JiiLss,  description  and  value  of" '  ^''*'  ^^'^ 

Black  Mountain  Kice,  natural  history  of ^1!? 

Black  Oat  (Jrass,  description  of,  .  •*'> 

Blossoming,  period  of,    ....        ^8 

Blue  (Jrass,  natural  historvof,  .'   .' 278,2110 

Blue  Joint  (ira.ss,  description 'of,  !    '. '*' 

Bones,  value  of  as  manure,       ' '*■• 

Burden's  (Jrass 374,375 

Bottle  IJrush  (Jrass,  deseripti"on" ^" 

Bottle  (Jrass,  natural  history  of, ^20 

Branching  Spear  (jJrass,      .    .    .'  * 1-"J 

Bristly  Fo.\-tail,  ileseription  of."    .'!.'"'' '•'■^ 

Bri.scly  Muskit,  natural  history  of  .    .        ' '■*'' 

Broom  Corn,  description  of  ' ti2 

150 

(391) 


r  j'i      M 


hi  : r 


r  ':  ,. 


'11  SHili 


■i.     t 


392 

GENERAL    U'DilX. 

BroTvn  Bont,  naturnl  histcry  of, 

Butt,  o  (in.,s  „„  ,|„.  ,,,,,i,,:',     ' ,„ 

Califuniia,  grasses  „C,  U7 

U„a^iaaL,m.,irass  Uc«c.;pu„;j^-    !    : 11)0,251,255 

Unt,  n  tunil  history  of  tl,e,    .     ' 5 

Ureal.a,  Uesfiiption  of  tho,       '  ■ ^7 

„         ""ipoitanceof  the,     .    .* ^''-J-  1J«,  IC;!,  l(i«,  171 

'•'lliiiatif  raiii'c  of  tho        I".". 

Charcoal,  uso  of  a.s  a  „i„ue' ^^^>    2^' m 

l^heaj,  lm,,l..,„ents,  coonou, v  of 373 

<^f'<;sH,  natural  history  of,  / !  S  (1 

^rculai  Letter  on  the  (irasses  '      1^0,  151,  ir.v   •ftH 

„        '""'' '  -^f  f^ui-iiig,     ..'.:: 1*^'^.  226,  228,  2;io:  335 

„        etiect  ot  on  the  soil,   ...        :(,(.-,,  337 

r/.,  *      ™';^''  t""o  of  sowinff,    .    .        210.285 

Uustenuj;  A  uhlenbergia,  natural  histo/y  of TS) 

"    mE  !"!"'  :''=^"''''"""  "i^  ^  ■:::::::;;::;••  13J 

"         Keed  (irass,  natural  history  of,*   ! •    •  i'^i  143 

.Spear  (irass "^    '' lUi),  207    258 

Composition  of  the  (irasses,      -    •    •  87,  s'J   91 

Compost,  modes  of  fonning,     .    ,    [ 2LM,  227,  22i5 

CornFodd^';",';!nnf'""''"'''''^'''"'^'«"p^^^^^      '■'■'■'.'   '''"''''•  ^ 

Couch  Urass,  natural  histo'ry'of '.    '.    ' :m  S 

Cows   cxperiMients  in  feeding  .' 115     !« 

Cow  Grass,  -leseription  of,     !'       I05'    06 

Creep„,gAleadow, irass, 'de^,.;,ti,-^-   ; [^ 

Cre^tedUo,:-    ,    ';"V"''.""'""^^''^'-yof,.    . 92 

t^rop  Uiass,  .lescription  of,    .    .  137,  138,  224,  227 

Crowded  Calamagrostis,  descri,  ti^n'of •    •        ol 

Cut  brass,  natu.al  history  of,  .     ' is 

Cutting  Grass  in  ihc  blossom:  .        20 

"      modes  of, 130,  2l)lt,  301,  ;;,)3    307 

Darnel,  or  Perennial  Rye  Gras. ^"'.  ^l"^,  310,  313:  320 

Division  Fences  on  tho  Farm,  :' ; 110,111 

Downy  Oat  Grass,  .    .  ' 'tlo   ■  iw 

^^       inple  .Awn,  description  of,      .        125 

Drnin     ■^'•'?'""''  '"it"'-"l  history  of,     .         59 

Drainage,  importance  of   .  v,i 

Drought,  ert-ect  of  on  vegetatioi,,'    : !  38':. 

Dupentia  Grass,  description  of,     .    .    [ 294,  2!)(i 

Early  Wild  Out  Grass,  description  of •" 

■        '    ' 127 


39 

■  •    •  U'J,  252,  258 
147 

•  •190,251,255 

IIU 

5t) 

110 

.•••...    27 
M,  Iti;{,  I(i8,  171 

155 

•     ^.VJ,  2(il,  2(i3 

373 

310 

102 

•  104,  J  05,  ]0U 
JO,  151,  1.-,-^,  338 

•  .    .   .  243-245 

'■>,  257,  2(;0,  2(,2 
•i,  254,  255,  2(;0 

•  250,  2(;],  2ti2 

to 

«,  228,  230,  335 

•  •    .335,337 

•  .    .  210,285 
.  1«7,  200,  207 

79 

46 

04 

135 

75 

•  •    .  142,  143 
lUi»,  207,  258 

•  •  «T,  89,  91 

•  224,  227,  229 
•378,370,382 
380 

•  •     338,  339 

■  .     115,  HG 

•  105,  100 

•  •    .    .  180 

•  ...    92 
.     130,  131 

138,  224,  227 

....  04 

•  •    .    .  48 
....  20 

iCl,  "03,  307 
ilU,  313,  320 

.     110,  111 
.     :!!«,  318 

•  ...  125 

•  .   .    .    59 
.    ...  124 

•  .    .    .  385 

•  .294,290 
'    -    .    .     (,0 

■  ...  127 


GENERAL    INDEX.  393 

Egyptian  Grass,  description  of. 

•ilemuiitii  of  respiration,    .    .       03 

>-;ngl..h  IJent,  nati.nil  history  of, 223 

Ivsscntiai  parts  „r  tlif  plant,     .        42 

Jivapuratioa  (Voiii  tliu  soil,    .  12,10 

Fall  l.Vu,li„«,  practice  of, 2^,241,(8. 

,,",    '"'^f''%' ;    ; 351,353,354 

ialso  1  tdto),,  nntural  liistory  of,         294,  290,  298 

Hico,  tlosoription  of,     .  81 

I'oathcr  lJru,,><,  natural  history 'of 20 

iertjlization,  process  of,    .    /. 57 

Jield  Ijarley  Grass,    ...  15 

iinetop 2]  J, 

i'iiiger  (Jra.ss,  description  of, ".'.".'    40 

iMiiKt^r-shaped  Paspalum,  where  fijund '« 

i  nger-spikea  Mood  (irass,  descriS  of IW 

I'lorin,  natural  history  of  ''"■'"on  ol, ^^^ 

^lesh-lorming  elements,  '.    .' ,.; 43 

iloaU„g,jK,i,iow(in,ss,  description  of ^'*''' ^20,  221,  225,  228,  230 

^^'         ioxtail,  natural  history  of     ' "o 

Finn,    f  ^Vi'''"'"'"'  "■''^■'■^'  '^'""il,    ■".'.'. ^3 

*  our  of  U  heat,  composition  of,  .        139 

*  owers  ot  the  Grasses,  102,  103 

l'ly-awi.y(irass,  description  of,'    " ^'A  13,  14,  10,  22,  25 

*ooa  of  .Animals,  nutritive  value  of,  ■ •,• 39 

l-orest  Trees,  culture  of,    .    .    .         ' 219,  221,  225,  235 

vl  ^V.?''''""'  ^'■ass,  description  of 300,  3(il 

iresh  "ater  Cord  Grass,  where  found «1 

1  ringed  lirome  Grass,  description  of,      .;:;;; «« 

Gama  (Jrass,  description  of,  '"" 

Oenus  and  Species,  distinction  between ^■i^ 

Goose  Grass.  ,kscription  of,  .    .  ' 17 

Grains,  climatic  range  of,      . 77.  79 

"        and  Grasses  sown' together. 259,290 

Gramineas  the  (,rder,     .   ,  ' 294.  290 

Gramma  Grasses,  history  and  distrfbiition' of 1 1.  10,  25 

brasses,  adapte,!  to  green  manurS  ' C2,  241),  254,258 

analysis  of  the,  .  *' .,.*    \-   '•••    •  209,  21].  213 

''        changes  in  the  growth  of ^'^'  ^^^'  ^^^'  ^21,  220.  22s,  331 

classification  of,  ' 302,303,329 

"       climatic  range  of, ^^>  ^^3,  205,  207.  2i(i 

"       collection  of,     .  '.    .' 240,  254,  255 

"       cultivation  of  the,  .'    .* 10,  388 

"       description  of  the,  .    * 1*^3,  184,  180,  208 

"        etfect  of  soil  and  se^isons  on, ''-  20,  154 

"        floweraoftho,  ...  239.211,  2.7 

"       green  manuring,      ^2,  13,  14,  Ic,  22,  25 

"        growth  of  in  sun  and  "shade ^^'  2"'''.  211,  214 

height  of  cutting,    ...     '      255,  250 

"        importance  of  the,  .  32t),  327 

"       list  of  tho  natural,    .    '. 9,  205 

"       mixtures  of  the,       .    .        1",  18,  20,  22,  222 

"        nutritive  value  of  the," 208,  278 

"       of  the  Southern  States,    , 217 

"       studying  the.     .   .    ,    .    ^       ' 2,)3,  254,  255 

"        the  artificial,     .    .        '    ' 1*',  17,  22,388 

"       tho  litter,  ....        183,  223 

.2i5 


IS 


\il 


•^^^  GENERAL    INDEX, 

Grasses,  the  rush-like, 

"       time  of  sowing  the, '   .* '  ,' ^'*"' ^'•'^ 

"     "   cutting  the,    .  .,,:,.  •^''.^''■^'•^"'■'''^^ 

Grass  Lands,  dniinago  of, ^■'■^>  •*"!.  •'"".  ^i^i^ 

"        treatment  of,   .    !    "    i •-',  •,,•••.• 'I^''' ^«'i 

"      "      top.,i.u8sinKu(; .i:;'':l.';^;">^ "'■'«:' 

"     Seed,  depth  of  covering,     .    '.    .    '. ''^  '  •*''■*'  '"">'  'j'J''  ''^^ 

"       "       geruiiuatiouof,  .   '.    .         '„,'-'„'.'  ^' ^'  ^^'^ 

;;       "      loss  of  fr.m,  too  deep  cm-^ring,  ". ^''^'  ^^^'  'i/"'  r,l\ 

"       "       mode  of  buyiu<'  iiil,2(3 

"       "       seleetion  of,     .    .    .'    .' Z  /    '    '  '■^"" 

"       "       time  of  sowing,  .  ^^■*'  '*'''-  -''^ 

"       "       weight  of,     .,.,■.■.■.■.' 'iW,  2!)C,  21)8 

Green  Manuring,  importance  of •. '.'f '"'''"'' ^"^ 

modes  of,  .   .    .    : ''inl'oJJ'^^*' 

Green  Meadow  (Jiiiss 210,211,214 

Growth,  pocuiiarities  of,    .    ." „;    *    •    •      ^7,  88 

Uuanoa.s  a  top-dressing,    ..'.'.'.'.'.', 20(,,  23iJ,  240,  :i2'J 

Guinea  (irass,  description  of         3.>(),  378 

liJO,  254,  258 

llair-panicled  Meadow  Grass,  . 

Hair  (Jrass, | 94 

Hairy  Muskit,  deseription'of,.'   .'    '    ' 39,47 

"      Slender  I'aspalum,  .    .    .    ", "2 

Hay,  nutritive  value  of,     ..'.'.'   _" 139 

"      curing  of,    ...  329 

"      Caps,  use  of,  ...    ■ ^^5.  =$20,  332,  334 

"        "       permanent,.    .    .    ' 340,347,349 

Hard  Fescue  (Jrass,  description  of,  .*    ! '^■*^'  "^'^^ 

lli-'at-foi-niing  elements,     .  '      97 

Herd's  (irass     See  Timotliy,  Re'dtop 223,319,321 

Holy  (irass,  description  of,    .    .    . 

liorncd  Sand  (irass,  description  of ^^1 

Hor>e-Fork     .     .     ,.     .  (ia 

Horse-rak(;,  u.-e  of  the, 345,346 

Humidity,  ..feet  of,     ....'.!;■. ^*^'  ?*2   344,  34« 

lluiigaiiaa  (inivs.  description  of 242,  2J5,  2.')7 

'      145 

Imitation  ot  nature, 

Indian  Coin,  climatic  range  of,    .    .    .    ,    \ 2f!(),  293 

"        "      composition  of,     .        259,  2(11 

"      culture  of,     ,    .    .    ! I'-i   *,o^  ", ^'"^ 

"      importance  of,  .   ..'.'.'..''   ^'**'  ^*^'^'  ^^1.  2j9,  338,  339 

"         "       natural  history  of,   .'    .' 'iiCi  \  '    '    '    '  ^'^ 

"        "      stooking  and  curing  of 154,174,  175,176 

"      varieties  of,  .....".', 339,340 

"      (irass,  description  of,    .    .    .    !    i    | 1'^ 

"      Millet,  naturalhistory  of'   ,*.'.*.' ^'"^ 

"      Kice,  deseri[)tion  of,      .!!.".* l**'^ 

Irrigation,  effect  of, \    \ 27,  28 

"  process  of,    ...    I    *    I    I    j    I •  383,  385 

Italian  Rye  (iruss,  description  of,'    !    !    .'    i    | '■^^^ 

"        "        "      comparative  value  of,    ."."!!.'" '^' 

Japan  Clover 

.Joint  (Irass,  description  of,   ....*..*. I'-'iJ 

June  Grass,  natural  history  of,        I'l'* 

"       t|ualities  of,    ...  ^7,88 

Jungle  Grasses,  list  of,  ...    .        89,  90,  91 

'    = 206 

Kentucky  Blue  Grass,  description  of 

"        "      qualities  of,  .    .   .'   ! ^7,  88 

' 89,  91 


I 


.  .  •  .  107,  ]'J8 
.  .  294,2UG, '2'JH 
Jl»,  301,  ;tO(i,  ;u;i 

•  .  .  .  ;(H,'),  38(1 
J3,  ;(7'>,  U77,  ;)n;t 
ii,  ;t(i.'),  ;i7.'),  ;iHi 

•  .  .  .  271,  27;{ 
i5,  2m,   270,  271 

•  .  .  .  271,273 

270 

.  .  2U4,  2ti.'),  207 
.  .  204,  200,  208 
■  ■  270,  271,  273 
0,  2011,  211,  214 

210,  211,  214 

...   87,  H8 

(i,  230,  240,  320 

•  .  3.J0,  378 
150,  254,  258 

94 

.  .  .  30,  47 

02 

139 

329 

,  329,  ;t:!2,  334 
.340,  ;J47,  349 
.  .  .  340,  3,)0 

97 

.  223,310,.S21 

131 

(15 

•  •  345,  346 
342  344,  340 
242,  255,  2:>7 

145 

•  .  .  209,  293 
.  .  .  259,  201 

177 

259,  338,  339 

176 

174,  175,  176 
.  .  .  3;i9,  ;540 

178 

140 

.  .  .  .  150 
.  .  .  27,  28 
.  .  383,  385 
....  384 
....  112 
.  .  .  .113 

.     .     .     .  I'ju' 
....  130 

.  .  .87,88 
.  89,  90,  91 
....  20ti 

•  .  .87,88 
.   .  .  89,  91 


GENERAL    INDEX.  3<^'5 

LarKe-pi.niclcd  Vilfa,  description  of,  , 

Lato  Krop  Seed,  natural  l.istory  of, 38 

LiiHiH. lasses,  mixture  of,  38 

Linio  ill  the  (iiasses, '^^'^'  283,  284 

"     applioaticjii  of,   ..." 232 

Liquid  .Manures,  value  of 234,  365,  367 

Lon«-awiiedJ',,vert.y(Jia,:,,  n,;tu;.J,;i,t-    •    •,. '*'*" 

w«;r"'"7'-^'''!!-'-''''^-^doseriptiu       : : i;o 

Ijueerne,  culture  of,    .  ' 73 

description  „r,     '.'.'.', ^'^'>>  l!'0,  192 

Lyme  (irass,  natural  liistory  oi,   '.   .   ',    [ 

Machine  and  liand  lalior,  .  ^'"^ 

Jluny.|loweiedl»arnel,  description  ^f,"    .' ^i  10,  :!12,  liKi.  :!15 

Manny's  .Mower,  illustrated,     .  1I'> 

Waniiies  for  (irass  Lands,  ,;. 317 

iMarsli  Oat  (Jrass,  description  of 3,j9,  ;i(;2,  ;{(,5,  ;!o7,  374 

Mcadoiv  liromo  Grass,  description  of ' '25 

"         Fescue     "  «  ,, ' 108 

"         io.xtaii    "  "  .,       09 

u        n„'t'n      "  .      ™'".«  "f' ''»r  pastures,  .*   .'.■.'.■,■ .'!? 

Uat  Urass,  description  of,  .    ,  >1 

"         Soft    "  ..  .,' 125 

"        Spear  Grass,     "  « 129,  1:10 

"         orSwalo  Hay,  .    .  72,73 

Melic  (Jiass,  desciipticii  of,  .    .' ''••!•>  200 

Millet,  description  and  cul'tJre'of,  '.    ! ''^ 

Millet  (.rass,  natural  history  of  112,  Ml! 

Mixtures  of  Urass  Seed,    .    .    .    .' ..W  .I.-    ••   '    •    ' , '    '    '    • '''^ 

^,  ."         "    soils,  importance  of,     !    '    '    "    *      '^'  '"'*''  '''■*'  ^"-  ''^'^'  2'.'1,  203 

Moisture  and  ileat,  etleot  of,  2i;;i,  ;J(i4 

Mountain  Cat's-tail,  descriiition  of 230,211,204 

Mowing,',  height  of,     .  ' 30 

Mowing-machines,  use  oV,"    .*.",'   ." .Ino    .•,,„•,•     ij'-^''.  327,  328 

„     ,",  "  nianagementof,         ." !<>«.  ^10,  312,  3i:!,  :!15.  :!J8 

Muck-beds  in  low  giountfs  320,  :i21 

Muskit  or  Uramma  (jfrasses,  .'.'.'.*.". ",  •  -['^'  -^'> 

Naked  Ilea rd  Grass,  description  of,         <>2,  2ol,  258 

Nimble  Will,  description  of,     ...        Ii2 

Nitrogen,  importance  of  in  food,     .* ■^' 

i\itrogetious  compounds,    .    .  ,'    *    *    •-'19,235 

Nodding  Fescue  Grass,  descrintiJn  of' 130,210,220,235 

A utritive  equivalents,  tables  of,  .    .!.".'.*,'.''' .:-'}?\ 

Oats,  natural  hiytory  and  culture  of,  .  "''  ''^^ 

"     quantity  necessary  to  sow   .  ''1 

"     varieties  of,    .    .    .  173 

Obtuse  Spear  (irass,  desJription"  of ^'1 

Orchard  Grass,  iiatuial  history  of,  .        No'    '    *    *     '^ 

Over-curing  of  grasses  injurious  12,  00,  08,  09 

Over-seeding  with  few  species,  .'.    .' V'^V-'o-  *  ^''^ 

Pale  Manna  (irass,  description  of,  ^'>^,  27o.  2r6,  292 

Pasture  Grasses 74 

Pastures,  turf  of  old,     .!'.!*.! 277,  278,  280 

"        renovation  of,     .'.'.*.' o--'   .',.;  ''   '•     274,  278 

"        top-dressings  for    .  >i-''^.  -i'^'- ;.>!•,  302,  381,  ;}83 

Perennial  Rye  Grass,  description  of, -J^H,  302,  ;{07,  ;i75 

Peunsyivanian  Eatonia,  dosoription  of  '   '   '    ' 110 

' "0 


r  ] 


"  GENERAL    INDEX. 

Pliosphat...  taken  fro.n  tlio  soil.  . 

J   ants,  niifnhor  oC  in  tlio  turf,  .  23J 

1  iaster  „f  l>uris,  uso  uf, 274,  27(i,  278 

1  oro,i|„no  (in.Ms,  natural  hiato"ry'of ■''"'  '''2.  374 

ii'tat(.-t(,ps,  coiniiositionof,  ' M 

poverty  (}n,ss,  description  of, :!77 

i  I'llihe  I{,fu,  (loseription  of,     ,  (iO 

I'ungont  .Meadow  (iia.ss  2i» 

i'urolo  Alpine  Hair  (iri'iss,*    !    ." !>3 

"      AVood  (iras.s,    .    .   '. 123 

"      M'ild  Uat  (irasii,      .".'.*.'.'." 14!) 

Quakin-  (ira.s..,  descrijjtion  of,      .....,, ^^" 

Ifains,  distribution  of,    .  "'*' 

Kattle.snalaMJnis.s,  ,,,itnnil  history  "of 242 

IWper,  In.storyaMduseofthe,    /.    ' 71 

«i-(  top,  deseriptiun  of,  .    .        322,  ;{24,  325 

Ited  Clovor,  natural  history  of 40,331 

„      ,  „"       t-''irinf,M.f,    .    .    .  ' IH.J,  lH(i,  2H2 

ne"d  Canary  Grass,    .    .  335,  337 

Re  1  Fe  cue  Grass,  natural  hi.story  of, J^G 

ithodo  island   l'.,.„t    .l. ...,.„:..:  •;.       ' y^ 

40 

27,  15(i,  ],-)8 

57 

,<         i  1,     ,  ,,      .ustory  of,  •'7 

Rush  )ike\-         '"",•''"' *'''^''--'Je^«ription  of; ♦'! 

ivusB-iike  (iras,se.s,  list  of,     .  85 

"     Suit  Uniss,  description"  of, 23U,  241,2G0 

■10 c,  (lescriptiou  of.    .    .    .    .    .'  ,* (;i 

Salt  .Marshes,  ditohin.'  of  1«« 

"     Marsh  (irass,  naUiral  history  o'f 38(!,  387 

Sa.nfojn,  history  an.l  culture  of  .  «0 

»and  (Truss,  description  of,  1!I4,  ]!I5 

Scytlie,  use  of  the,      .    .  (io 

Sea  .Spear  (Jrass,  description  of 307,320 

Seasons,  inthieMcc  of,     .    .        77,  7.) 

Scdfe'es,  de,serii,ti(ui  and  list  of      2311,  241,  2(,0 

Seed,  selection  of, ' 199,  200,  203,  -lu 

quantity  to  be  sown, 17:i,  '^{..i 

,"      vitality  of, 173,  278,  2m; 

.;i!neca  Ura.ss,  de.scription  of, 2(3,  2(  (i 

^  lade,  erteots  on  the  ,,uality  of  grass '^i 

^l.eep^s  Fescue  (^rass,natunilhiftory  of 239,241,2(4 

Sheep   etfcct  of  on  the  pasture,      ^     ' 97 

Short-loaved  IJeard  (Jrass,     .        382,  383 

hpear      "      .  ,  (;;[ 

'.'     stalked  Meadow  Grass,    .* 81 

Silicates  taken  from  the  soil,         05 

felender-tail(;ras,s,  natural  hist"ory  of 231,232 

Spike  (ira.ss,  description  of,    ' HO 

Meadow    "  '<  «  iQi) 

"       Three-awned  (irass,  description" of, '^'•i 

['^       Io.xtail,  natural  history  of  ' 5!) 

»       Crab  Grass,  description  of.' 31 

ispiked  Fescue,         "       «'  " 140 

101 


23) 

.    274,  270,  'J78 
.    370,  372,  37-1 

C)H 

377 

5i» 

■' ()0 

2lt 

!»3 

123 

14!) 

12(i 

96 

242 

71 

322,  324,  325 
.   .    .    40,  331 

1H'>,  Ih(),  2H2 
.  .  33,->,  337 
,  133,  134,  13(J 

130 

!)7 

40 

.  27,  l,j(i,  1,")8 

r)7 

37 

(il 

85 

23!J,  241,  2G0 

01 

.    .     .     .  108 

.  380,  387 
....  01 
....    00 

.  I!t4,  ]!»5 
....  05 
.     307,  320 

•  .  77,  7:) 
!3'J,  241,  2(,l) 
100,  21)3,  2/1 

.  17l»,  -ji.] 
73,  278,  2sO 

•  2(,3,  21(1 
.  .  .  .  J3i 
JS),  241,  2(,4 
.  .  .  .  !»7 
.  382,  383 
.    .   .    .     (i3 

.    ...    81 

•  ■    .    .     !»5 
.     231,  232 

...  110 
.    .    .  10!) 

.  .  .   !»;{ 

.  .  .  5!) 
...  31 
.  .  .140 
...  101 


GENERAL    INDEX.  397 

Sloncler  Hairy  Lymo  Grass,  natural  history  of 

filial  IKesciio,  (Icsoription  of     .  "' "'"'^y  O' ng 

Smooth  iMaryj)  Grass,   "     "'.'.'.", '-Hi 

''        Erect  I'aspuluni,  (lescri*|.tion  of "^ 

Crab  (iniss  natural  history  of, '''i' 

hnow,  effect  of  on  grasses,  140 

Soft  Ijromc  (;rass,  natural  history  o'f ,'.'.'    .' '^''''  ''^"•' 

l^yuio       "       description  of,     . '"' 

Soil,  cdect  on  tlie  grii.sses,      .    ,  ll!< 

Soils,  mixture  of,     ....[[ 12 

203,  2)i4 

150,  152,  338 

!I5 

10,  388 

-  --,...,...,,.,.„  „.,  .    .    , 100,102 

hjjike  (irass,  natural  history  of IH 

Star  (irasses,  list  of  the,    .    .    ' 80,  1U8 

Starch    transformation  into  woody  ("ibre l'^'^ 

Striped  (Jrass •'  ' 302,  321),  330 

Sterile  IJromo  Grass,  description  of 133,134,135,130 

Strong-scentod  Vilfa,  natural  history  of 1"» 

^^   •   .      "        iMeadow  Grass,     .    ^     ' 37 

btooking  of  corn,  practice  of,  . »3 

Swale  (Jrass 33!»,  340 

Sweet-scented  Vernal  Grass H'D,  204 

Swale  Hay,  value  of,  .    .      ' 132,  133,  134 

Sylvan  Wuhlenbergia,  history  of, ^''>">  204,  233 

"      Spear  Grass,  description  of,*    !    .'    i    i '^7 

Tall  Fescue  Grass,  description  of,  **^ 

;;     O'lt  "      natural  historv  of, 100 

Kedtop,  description  of,  ,    .    "      127 

"     Thin  Grass,     "         <<     _    _        05 

Technical  terms,  use  of, 39 

Temperature  <if  wheat  districts' ^'^'  >t.  10,  17 

Three-awned  (Jrass,  description'of, 241 

licklo  (jtrass,  <<         ,< 59 

Time  of  sowing  grass-secd,  3!) 

Timothy?  description  of,     .    .    '   ,' 2!»4,  2!)(;,  2!)8 

"  sown  with  clover,  .    .'   .' 12>  17,34,332 

"         time  of  cutting, 35 

Toothache  Grass,  natural  history  "of" 29!),  301,  303,  305 

Top-dressing  of  grass  lands,      ..'.', 'a  'nA,\:^-    •    •    •'! 

Treatment  of  grass  lands,      .  ^:^'  ^'^-'  307,  375,  370 

Truncated  K.vleria,  natural  historyof '  ^^'''  ^"^'  ^^^'  385 

lutted  llair  (iniss,  description  of"       ' '^0 

Iwin  (irass,  natural  history  of      ' 121 

Twitch     "         "  ..         ,;'    I GO 

Upright  Sea  Lyme  Grass,  description  of,'   .*.".".'*,'* 115,  110 

Vanilla  Grass,  description  of  ^^^ 

Vegetation,  conditions  of,     .' 131 

Velvet  Grass,  natural  historv  oV 239,240 

Vilfa,  rough-leaved,  .    .  •.  ' 129,  130 

"      hidden-flowered,      .    '. 37 

Virginia  Cut  Grass,  descrijjtion  of,'   ',',[]   \ /^  37 

Water  Hair        "  «  „  ' 

"      Spear       "      natural  history  o'f ^23 

34  '     75 


398 


GENERAL    INDEX. 


Wavy  Meadow  Orass, 

Weak  Meadow  Oraas !!.'!.'.',' ^^ 

Wet'ds,  analysis  of, !.'.'.' ,^' 

Wheat,  natural  history  of,    . '''■'* 

"      culture  of, •,,•    •.,•'•    'll^ 

'■  co.ni,o8iti,;n  of,  ::::;::::::;•••  •    '    '  '^'^'  '^^} 

"      eliiiiatie  range  of, \   [ •ri'o*''^ 

White  Clover,  description  and  culturo'of,  '  .'  .' '  ^tl 

"    tirasa,  natural  history  of, ,, 

"    Top,  "  '<       "     .   .   .   .       ,  ■    ,  ' 

"    Mountain  Rice .*.".'!! '^'  ^'P, 

Wild  Water  Foxtail !.'!!!!! i*' 

"    Chess,  description  of,    .....'.'.'    ' A^ 

"    Out  (Irass,  natural  history  of,    .    , Il,, 

Winter  Wheat,  effect  o«"  snow  on,     .  .,,,:; 

Wire  OniHs ^^■^ 

Wild  Rico,  descrii.tion  of,     ....'. L'^ 

\VitchCiruss.     Sec  Twitch  Grass  .    .'.".'.'.'". ,,1 

Wobuni  Experiments,  account  of  the ' nf9 

Wood  lliiir  (Irass,  natural  history  of,     .....' f.m 

"      Heed     "       description  of,     ....  f? 

"      Meadow  Grass, *, 

"      .Spear  '■  , .'..".".'.'.*.' c] 

Woolly  Reard  Grass,  description  of,    i   ..".*!.'!!.'!   i   .'.'   |   .'"   '  14s 

Yellow  Oat  "  "  " *  ,, , 

Yellow-eyed  Grasses,  list  of,     .....'   .'  .'  .*  ."  .'  .'  .'  .'  .'   i  .'   *   '  *   '  lyy 


80 

fil 

234 

117 

158,  l(iO,  l(i3,  281 

162 

■    .    ■    .      'i(;i,  203 

1M8 

2B 

....    42,  123 

56 

33 

107 

123 

2(13 

!»1 

28 

115 

218 

120 

45 

84 

SI 

148 

126 

lUO 


